LAST week's victory over Salford made sure that we qualified in fifth spot for the play offs. Everyone is delighted that we will be able to take part in what I am sure will be a memorable series.

We are determined to see how far we can go in the new format. Obviously we have some major injuries to contend with and, whilst it would be nice to be going into the games with a fully fit squad, we will just have to manage with what we have got.

It is a big blow to such as James McDermott who will miss out through injury. The Bulls always look a much better side when he is on the field and he joins Tevita Vaikona on the side lines as well as players who have been out for most of the season.

I am really looking forward to the play offs. I think it could be a great format. It works very well in Australia and, whilst they don't have a monopoly on good ideas, they do have the stongest competition in the world. I just hope that the powers that be give the idea a fair crack of the whip and don't change things after one season. Don't hold your breath!

I thought the team did really well against Salford last week. They came here and looked like they wanted to knock someone's head off at every tackle.

I was pleased that we stuck to our guns and got on with the game under some intense provocation. I can't believe that their coach would have told them to play like that but if he did it is no surprise to see them at the bottom of the table.

They were gunning for Nathan McAvoy right from the kick off and their head high tackles were disgraceful. Bradbury's tackle on Harvey Howard was diabolical. He had just attacked the head of Stuart Fielden and the very next tackle he ran with his elbow straight for Harvey's head. I can't believe that he only got a five match ban for such a disgraceful act. In this game what comes around goes around and I have no doubt that the same player will do it again. We need to make sure that these acts are banished from the game.

It was a sad day at Odsal on Sunday. Penguin, Abi and Medders all said goodbye to the fans as it was their last game at the stadium. Graeme Bradley has been a massive influence on the club and it is going to be a strange place without him next season.

Paul Medley has been a great servant to the Bradford club and I hope that his testimonial year is a good one for him. Abi too has proved his ability to change sports and I hope that he achieves his ambition of making the Sydney Olympics.

I thought that the fans were marvellous on Sunday. The reception they gave the players at the end was fantastic and they have supported us all year. There were 11,104 spectators and I think that there were only four from Salford! They supported the team magnificently and I hope that they turn out in force at Saints on Friday. They are so important to the success of the team.

It would be wonderful if the Bulls fans could outnumber the Saints fans on Friday. It would really help us to do the business.

It looks like George Graham will be on his way to Spurs. He cer

tainly hasn't given any indication that he wants to stay. I watched Grandstand on Saturday and it seems that 995 of the Tottenham fans don't want him!

It is difficult to know what is going through his mind as London has been a big part of his life but if he didn't really want to stay then he should go and let us get someone in there who does.

I will finish this week with a word on a couple of my mates. Nobby Noble has been giving me some stick after I wrote the comments on him last week but I am afarid that I have to stand by everything that I said!

He has not been too bad this week as the weather has not been too bad and his rickety old knee has not been playing him up. Roll on the cold weather!

Another mate of mine and a regular name in this column, Gary Mercer, was in fine form on Sunday night as the Blue Sox defeated the Rhinos 42-0.

Ming, as he is known, scored a fine try and celebrated in some style.

It is always nice to score against your old club but he really looked stupid when the camera panned out and there was no one on the terraces at the end that he was jumping up and down in front of.

Come on Gary open your eyes next time.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.