Bradford Bulls head coach braced for games to go to the wire

Bradford’s players broke off for some well-earned holiday time after the Betfred Championship win over Barrow 12 days ago, and they finally return this Sunday, looking for another two points at Whitehaven.

Bulls have won six of their 10 league games so far, but they could so easily have been second in the table had they not thrown away golden opportunities against Widnes and Batley, losing both of those matches by a single point.

Discussing the gap between the Cumbria double-header, O’Carroll said: “It’s been good, and when we came back, we had something that wasn’t exactly a big mid-season review, but just looking where we’re at after 10 league games and where we could have been if we’d been a bit more clinical at times.

“We’ve trying to use that as a positive though, because it shows we’ve been highly competitive this year, with two of those four league defeats by only one point.

“We know the importance of now making sure that when we’re in those close-run situations again, we get the job done.

“The break has allowed us to clarify just how tight the table is currently too, with three of us currently on 12 points in that top six (Featherstone and Toulouse being the others).

Bulls have already beaten play-off rivals Featherstone and Toulouse this season, winning tight games by 10 and seven points respectively. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

“I just wanted to get the message across to the players that that competitiveness is going to continue this season, so our points difference is going to play a huge part in where we finish by the end of the year.”

Another benefit the fortnight gap between games has given Bulls is that it has allowed the injury-hit squad a proper chance to recover.

O’Carroll said: “The break came at the right time for us, we’ve used the break as a huge positive and the group looks refreshed, with a couple of boys we’re hoping to have back after long-term absences.

“Sam Hallas and Dan Smith are looking much better, fitness-wise, than they were before this break, so I think it’s been a real positive for some people.”

Another piece of good news was that no new injuries were picked up in that win over Barrow last time out, with O’Carroll saying: “We’re looking quite healthy in that respect.

“We still have some bodies out missing, but no-one new, though we have lost Eribe (Doro) to his three-match suspension.”

Only last month, O’Carroll hailed Doro as the best player in the league on form, but he is now banned until July’s game at Toulouse for headbutting Andrew Bulman in the win over Barrow, after the Raiders man caught him in the face with a stray elbow.

O’Carroll admitted: “It’s really, really disappointing, but we’ll support Reebs through all of this.

“He’s been fantastic for us this season, but he honestly needs a break anyway, whether we like it or not.

“Three weeks is too much, but we’ll manage that long absence in the right way.

“He’s been playing absolutely busted, so it’s what’s next for him now, and my job is to make sure that Eribe comes back even better than when he left us.

Eribe Doro in action for Bulls against Barrow earlier this month before his sending off. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

“That means having him refreshed, but also ensuring he comes back fit and strong, so we’ve got a good plan in place for Eribe over these next weeks.

“He’s really disappointed with what happened against Barrow, but that’s the nature of the beast sometimes.

“He’s human, he made a mistake, and he has my full support.”

Doro’s ban starts this weekend, so he is ruled out of Sunday’s game at Whitehaven.

It means he would have been available if Bulls had reached last Saturday’s AB Sundecks 1895 Cup final, but they were knocked out by eventual winners Wakefield in the semis.

Asked if that near-miss could act as fuel for the rest of the season, O’Carroll said: “It probably hurt me the most us not being there, because I was down at Wembley last Saturday.

“I know how special it is to be involved in finals, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience some as a player and as a coach.

“I’m really disappointed that we weren’t there, but luckily enough there’s an opportunity for us to play in another this year (the Championship Grand Final).

“We have to make sure learn our lessons ahead of that back end of the season to give ourselves the best opportunity we can to play in another final.”