HOMEGROWN Bulls talent Jayden Myers feels Bulls may have got “complacent” in the second half of their AB Sundecks 1895 Cup semi-final defeat to Wakefield at Odsal, while also admitting to being “annoyed” at having to play on the wing.
Bradford led 8-6 at the break on Sunday, putting next month’s Wembley final tantalisingly within reach, but Trinity destroyed Eamon O’Carroll’s side thereafter, winning the game 40-14.
Reflecting on how the match went, on a team level, Myers said: “We were confident at half-time, even though we were only two points clear.
“But we knew they could break away from us if they got chance, and maybe it was because we got complacent, maybe it was because we lost a couple of leaders, but they broke us down.
“Freddy (O’Carroll) said to us at half-time that Wakefield would come out all guns blazing after the break, as they’re a full-time side who are fitter than we are.
“We knew we’d have to want it more to have a chance of winning, but we didn’t really show that in the second half.
“We were complacent, we got things wrong, and they took advantage and took us apart.”
Myers picked up a short-term ankle ligament injury in the fine win at Featherstone last month, but only missed two games before returning to the side.
The 21-year-old played in his natural position of centre in the Betfred Championship games against Widnes and Swinton, but was shunted out to the right wing on Sunday, where he featured earlier in the season, to allow Joe Arundel to play on his inside.
He said: “I talked to Freddy and told him that I’d rather play at centre.
“I’ll play anywhere he wants me obviously, and Joe’s so experienced that it made sense for him to be in the centres for a game like that.
“I was no more anxious than I usually am about playing on the wing, and I’m getting more comfortable out there.
“But I was quite annoyed I suppose, because I’m naturally a centre and I get to do more defensively in there and I’m more involved when we get good ball in attack.
“I’ll just do my best wherever I’m asked to play though.”
Myers was just a teenage scholar at Bulls when they had two massive games at Odsal in 2019, the Betfred Challenge Cup win over Leeds and the expected farewell clash against Sheffield.
This was probably their biggest game at the ground since, with the youngster saying: “It was good to have that big build up to Sunday and I was quite nervous beforehand.
“It was a good atmosphere, I knew it’d be busy and I’ve not played in a game that had as much as that on it before, given I missed the play-offs last season with injury.
“I’ve been watching big games at the club for years so to play in one was a big thing for me.”
This weekend is not exactly a massive comedown either, as Bradford host a rampant Sheffield side in the league, with the Eagles having booked their own spot in the 1895 Cup final by beating York a few days ago.
Myers said: “We’ll review the Wakefield game in training then put it to bed ahead of facing Sheffield, though obviously we’ll keep the mistakes we made in mind so we can try and rectify them.
“The scoreline against Wakey didn’t reflect the effort levels we put in though.
“The lads in the middle in particular worked ridiculously hard, and if we play like that in our Championship games, few sides will beat us.
“Sheffield will have some confidence for Sunday after winning their semi-final last weekend, and they’re a good side.
“But I know we can regather after the Wakefield defeat and do the job against Sheffield this weekend.”
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