By ALAN BIRKINSHAW

Bradford Bulls players have been banned from talking about next month's Challenge Cup final.

Coach Matthew Elliott has imposed the gagging order in a bid to keep his team focused on their Super League programme.

The Murrayfield showdown with Leeds on April 29 has been the main topic of conversation among the club's followers this week after the 44-20 semi-final win over Warrington on Saturday.

But Elliott is putting a block on all media interviews which are geared towards the final.

He also hopes his players will not be pestered with requests for tickets now that the club's full allocation of 12,500 has been sold in just two days.

"There are eight crucial Super League points to be won before the final and I want them," he declared.

"We cannot afford to have a split focus so I have told the players that as from now talking about the final is out until after we have played London Broncos on Good Friday.

"We cannot afford to have our minds on two things. The cup final will be an unwelcome distraction if we allow it to dominate our thoughts right now.

"Our objective is to win both Super League and the cup final this season so we mustn't let ourselves be distracted."

Elliott has been working feverishly this week to ensure that all travel, accommodation and ticketing requirements for the final have been completed so they will not cause a distraction.

"I don't mind if people think I am some kind of ogre for banning the players from talking about the cup final, but it is important as coach that I create an environment which will enable us to prepare for matches in our normal way," he said.

"I am sure the fans would be fed up if we kept banging on about the cup final for a month.

"It is a special occasion and it will remain just that if we only start to talk about it once we have got our next four Super League games out of the way.

"The players are fully supportive of my position and understand why I don't want anybody talking about the final until the appropriate time."

Leeds Rhinos had sold more than 7,000 of their allocation of tickets for the final by last night.

Meanwhile, England scrum-half Paul Deacon is pencilled in for his Bulls comeback this week after a broken foot.

Deacon sustained the injury at the club's pre-season training camp in Lanzarote and has not played at all so far this campaign.

In his absence the Paul brothers have been in sensational form and helped sink Warrington Wolves in Saturday's semi-final.

But Deacon's return to fitness would be a major boost for the club, especially with Henry and Robbie Paul on duty for New Zealand in the Anzac Test against Australia on Good Friday when the Bulls meet London Broncos at Odsal.

"It will be great to have him back," Elliott admitted.

"Any squad would benefit from a player of Paul's quality."

Deacon could test his fitness first in tomorrow night's Alliance clash with Huddersfield/Sheffield at Odsal (7.30pm).

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