Quarter Finals
Bradford Bulls 16 l. Hull FC 22

2008 Challenge Cup Index [Draw] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: Challenge Cup

Bulls Eye: Bradford v Hull FC
Fri May 30, 2008
Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

In Bulls Eye this week Bradford Coach Steve McNamara looks ahead to Sunday's Carnegie Challenge Cup Quarter Final tie when Hull FC are the visitors to the Grattan Stadium.

STEVE McNAMARA
IT'S THE CARNEGIE CHALLENGE CUP AGAIN THIS WEEK. DOES IT STILL MEAN SOMETHING SPECIAL?
Without a doubt. It's a very special competition and we are all very excited about it. We have been from the very first round we were involved in it and now we are at the Quarter Final stage and it's getting very, very exciting.

Whether you are form England or Australia, young or old, you all understand the glamour of the competition and what it means, so I don't mind the players thinking about the Final because it can be a big motivation factor.

HULL FC HAVE GOT A NEW COACH. WILL THEY BECOME A BIT OF AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY FOR YOU?
Richard was part of the original set up and he has been for a while so I wouldn't expect him to change too many things immediately but what his appointment does do is take a bit of pressure of the players. It probably enables them to play more of a free flowing style, so they will be dangerous.

They lifted their performance last week against St Helens ? I thought they were a little unfortunate in that game - but I am more concerned against us this week and achieving our goal of getting through to that Semi Final. We are at the Grattan Stadium and it's a ground we like playing on, so hopefully we will perform well this week.

LAST WEEK'S GAME WAS A BRUISING ENCOUNTER?
It was and we had some adversity - in losing players in the final practice - and in the game but these things happen in Rugby League and you have to change the way you prepare and you have to adapt accordingly but by Sunday we will be ready to go.

We have got Matt Cook back and he will go straight into the Squad for Sunday. He is a very young, enthusiastic, committed player and he is probably just what we need at this time. He certainly has a spring in his step and it's good to see.

SQUAD
Matt Cook comes straight into the Squad after his loan spell at Castleford was terminated and Matt James replaces the Cup Tied Craig Kopczak. Keal Carlile, who was on the bench last week against Leeds, retains his place in the squad.

The 19 man Squad is: Sam Burgess, Paul Sykes, Matt James, Glenn Morrison (c), James Evans, Dave Halley, Michael Platt, Shontayne Hape, Iestyn Harris, Ben Jeffries, Tame Tupou, Simon Finnigan, Andy Lynch, Matt Cook, David Solomona, Terry Newton, Joe Vagana, Keal Carlile, Jamie Langley.

MILESTONES
PAUL DEACON, who has kicked 66 goals from 78 attempts this season for an average of 84.62%, passed a career total of 2,400 points in the game at Castleford. He also needs only four points for a Super League career total of 2,000 (not including play-offs).

His 1,996 points have come from 64 tries and 879 goals, including 18 drop goals, in 254 rounds of Super League. All the points were scored for Bradford, but he also made two substitute appearances for Oldham without scoring.

Only Andrew Farrell has scored more Super League points than Deacon, with a record 2,228 for Wigan Warriors from 1996 to 2004.

IESTYN HARRIS needs 2 Tries for a career total of 150. He has scored 148 Tries for Warrington, Leeds, Bradford, Gt. Britain, Wales and Gt. Britain Under 21's. He also needs 2 points for a total of 300 for the Bulls, having scored 33 tries, 82 goals and 2 drop goals in 121 appearances since joining them in July 2004.

WAYNE GODWIN needs 8 points for a career total of 300. The Hooker has scored 33 tries and kicked 80 goals in his 155 appearances.

News Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk


Airlie News: Hull FC v Bradford
Fri May 30, 2008
Source: www.hullfc.com

Richard Agar was assistant coach when Hull FC won the Challenge Cup in 2005; he's now Head Coach and two games away from the final at Wembley on August 30th.

Does he think he can lead the side out at Wembley in 2008?

"It would be nice and obviously we must have a chance as we're still in the competition but we have a very difficult hurdle to overcome on Sunday when we go to Bradford," he said.

"To be honest we're not looking or thinking about anything further ahead than Sunday and, although I know 'we're taking one game at a time' is an old cliche it is a true one, especially in this case.

Hull travel to the Grattan Stadium on Sunday for their Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter final tie with Bradford Bulls (3-15pm) and they will be looking to overcome a six match losing run at the ground.

In fact, Hull's only win at Bradford during the Super League era came in 2004 when they toppled the Bulls 26-18 and Shaun Briscoe scored four tries. Other than that the trips have been fruitless and sometimes painful because in 2005 they lost a play off game by a club record margin of 71-0.

"As you can see our record at Bradford isn't that clever, although it is an incentive for us to change it," he added.

"Bradford are a good side, they are well coached, they have some excellent players and they are always difficult to beat on their own ground.

"Having said that they, like us, have a few players missing and maybe this is as good a time as any to play them.

"It may well be but only if we perform and I think we will go into the game taking a fair amount of confidence with us from the St Helens game.

"I believe we can draw a lot of positives from that performance and if we improve in certain areas then we're going to be well in the hunt for a semi final place."

Agar knows that a key part of Bradford's success is forward dominance with their big pack gaining the momentum and quick play the balls.

"We have to match then up front," he said. "They are strong and dangerous here and we have to make sure we at least share the honours if not get on top.

"At the same time we also need to have a bit more of a cutting edge with the ball than we have. Our attack, for a number of reasons, hasn't quite clicked as well as it can and it is something we're fully aware of and are working on.

"As a former half back I like to play an open type of game and at the moment we have to be a bit more clinical and give our strike players better service.

"Once we do it will take some pressure off our defence, which has been pretty good and against St Helens it was outstanding at times.

"Against St Helens we played with a lot of energy and that's what I'll be looking for again on Sunday."

Berrigan looks forward to Cup clash
Shaun Berrigan has played in some of the biggest and highest profile games in the world and now he's hoping to add the Challenge Cup experience to that list.

A big close season signing for Hull FC from Brisbane Broncos, the Australian Test player and Queensland State star has already tasted the cup competition and likes it.

He said: "Just to hear the boys talk about the cup and the experience of a couple of years ago when Hull won the trophy lets you know how big the competition is.

"Even watching the soccer game at Wembley it looked awesome and it would be great to just play in front of a full house on that kind of stage.

"Win two more games and were at Wembley, although first we have to get over Bradford this weekend and that's going to be tough.

"It is a really big game for the club and boys and let's just hope things work out right for us.

"I think we can take some positives from last weekend. St Helens are second in the table, they are a quality side with internationals all across the field and we were down a bit on troops and they only won by eight.

"It was a courageous defensive effort from us and if we can repeat that every week then things will turn round for us that's for sure."

Youngster Craig Hall believes this is a big game for the club
Hall revealed: "The way we have been going in the league this is a big game for us.

I think we deserve to give the fans something back for their fabulous support this season and I also feel we need to do it for ourselves.

"I thought last Sunday was the first time we really played as a team and really dug in for each other. I think if we can do that for the rest of the season we'll get some points on the board and get up that ladder.

"At the same time it will give us every chance of making it through to the semi final of the Challenge Cup, which is our first objective.

"There is a bit of a buzz around the place, Richard (Agar) has settled in pretty quickly and the lads have really adapted straight to him.

"St Helens was good for us and hopefully we can build on that."

Hull FC squad
Berrigan, Byrne, Burnett, Carvell, Dowes, Dykes, G. Horne, Hall, Houghton, Lee, Manu, Radford, Raynor, Sing, Thackray, Tickle, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Yeaman

Recent record against Bradford Bulls
Hull FC have lost on their last six trips to Bradford Bulls. The defeats include a fourth round knockout in 2006 and by a club record losing margin of 71-0 in a 2005 engage Super League play-off.

On the brighter side, they beat Bradford en route to winning the Challenge Cup in 2005 and also on the way to Wembley in 1980.

Hull's only win at Bradford in the Super League era was 26-18 in 2004. Bradford were beaten semi-finalists last year, losing 35-14 to St. Helens, while Hull's last semi was in 2005 when they beat St. Helens 38-4 before going on to defeat Leeds Rhinos 25-24 in the final.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings:
1897-98 (3) Hull 2 Bradford 6
1945-46 (1)* Bradford 11 Hull 0
Hull 2 Bradford 0
1978-79 (3) Bradford 8 Hull 8
Replay Hull 4 Bradford 8
1979-80 (3) Bradford 0 Hull 3
2005 (5) Hull 26 Bradford 24
2006 (4) Bradford 23 Hull 12
* Two legs

News Source: www.hullfc.com

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