BRADFORD Bulls head coach Eamon O’Carroll has always come across as a paternal and understanding figure with his young squad, perhaps owing to the fact he is only 37 himself.
And it feels like he has taken 21-year-old Jayden Myers and 19-year-old Eliot Peposhi under his wing in particular.
And while he had to make some difficult selection calls on both of them this season, he is proud of the maturity they have reacted with.
Myers could not hide his delight when scoring in last week’s Betfred Championship home win over York, after missing Bulls’ two previous games, and he will be hoping to start again on Sunday at Widnes.
But there are some big Australian names in the Bradford backline at present, meaning Myers will not always get the nod.
And O’Carroll told the T&A: “It’s part and parcel of the game, but when you care about players, that’s always a difficult conversation when you’re having to leave them out.
“What makes my job a little easier is that Jayden and Eliot in particular, their attitudes towards that are very understanding.
“The pair of them know where we’re at as a club at the minute, and the role they’ll probably have to play.
“Although they’re very disappointed when they are left out, they’ve got a team-first mentality, which is something we’ve been driving since I came to the club.
“We need the whole group this year, not just the matchday 17, as everyone has to be ready to help the players around them.
“Jayden and Eliot certainly have that attitude when they’re not playing.
“On the one hand, it’s a difficult conversation to be having, but being honest with them is always the best approach.
“You can visibly see Jayden and Eliot are disappointed when I don’t pick them in the 17, but they get on with their jobs after that, which is supporting the team and being in the best possible shape, physically and mentally, to be ready when they are called upon to play.”
Both will need to be at their best if they are selected for Sunday’s tricky trip to fifth-placed Widnes, where an away win would be a giant stride for Bulls in the quest for a top-four finish and an initial home play-off.
O’Carroll said: “It would put that gap between us if we win on Sunday.
“We understood going into it that this month was going to be a really difficult one for us, so we understood the importance of this weekend regardless of who we were playing.
“This was always going to be an important month for us in terms of results and performances, so we’re looking at the situation more like that, rather than Sunday being a particularly decisive game.”
Bulls are hoping to make it third time lucky against Widnes this season, after the Vikings bundled them out of the Challenge Cup in March, then came from behind late on to sneak a 14-13 win at Odsal the following month.
O’Carroll said: “I think there’s a bigger picture, though we’re fully aware we’ve not beaten them yet this season.
“In the league game, we beat ourselves, and Widnes exploited our lack of discipline and attention to detail.
“But this weekend isn’t about getting revenge for that, it’s more about what’s next for us, which is the bigger prize at the end of Sunday’s game.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here