Bradford Bulls head to Huddersfield on Friday night with several forwards offering to play through injury as the club search for their first away win of the year.
Bulls assistant coach Lee Greenwood fielded questions from the press today (Wednesday) shortly after Bradford named their 21-man squad, a squad that features several players who are carrying knocks.
Greenwood admitted: “There’s a few people here who probably shouldn’t be in, who are carrying knocks and injuries, who didn’t play last week, just putting their hand up and wanting to play, so we’ll make a decision probably tomorrow on some of these guys.
“Dan Russell, Zac Fulton, Loghan Lewis, they’re all busting a gut wanting to play, they want to come back and be part of the team, so whether we put them all in, one of them, two of them, some of them, we’ll make that decision as late as possible.
“Hopefully they pull through and when we name the team tomorrow, they’re in there but they’re putting their hand up to play, and it’s great to have them back in.”
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Will Gardiner in line for Bradford Bulls return
That trio would all be huge additions in the pack, particularly second-rowers Russell and Fulton as Bradford lost Leon Ruan on Sunday but the Bulls are hopeful it’s nothing serious more serious than cramp.
“We’re hoping it’s not (more severe), we haven’t sent him for a scan or anything like that,” Greenwood said.
“He started cramping up towards the end of the game, so we’re just putting it down to that at the moment, and then obviously if it carries on for another few days, then we’ll probably see if there’s anything more to us to do it.”
Another second-rower who is out is Phoenix Steinwede and offering an update on the injured mid-season sign, Greenwood confirmed he remains another couple of weeks off.
He said: “Obviously, it’s not ideal because when he first came over he played one and a half games, went off, and then he’s done the same again. It’s a bit frustrating for him as well. He’s come over to prove himself. He’s showed nice signs in each performance he’s had. A couple of really nice touches in that last game for him. He’s a couple of weeks off, but he’s chomping at the bit to get back.”
Another shock name in the Bradford squad was Will Gardiner just two weeks after the scary HIA that saw him stretchered from the field, with follow-up scans at the hospital discovering a bleed on the brain.
Greenwood admitted that he too was surprised that the former Hull FC man was back so quick, stating that it was an injury that looked more severe than it was by merit of the safety protocols in place.
“It just looked more severe, I think, and his reaction straight after made it look a little bit worse, maybe, than a normal concussion,” Greenwood said.
“He’s back in the mix, back in the running, back training and everything. It’s good because I’m like you, I thought he’d be longer than a week out because of how he looked.
“I’ve mentioned some of the other boys before who’ve been injured and have put their hand up to play. It depends on those, I suppose. If one or two of those don’t make it, then Will’s got a chance.”
