Thursday 4th March 10

Former Bradford Bulls captain Paul Deacon is hoping for a sympathetic reception from the home fans tomorrow when he returns to Odsal for the first time since his move to Wigan Warriors.

His former Bradford team-mates Leon Pryce and Stuart Fielden both received hostile reactions when they returned to their former home with St Helens and Wigan respectively.

But Deacon hopes the Bulls supporters appreciate his 12 years service and that an opportunity to play for his home-town club was just too good to turn down.

“My situation is completely different,” he said. “I hope people understand the reasons I left. I tried to make that clear at the time but the move came out of the blue and it had to be done quick.

“I was glad to see them sign such a world-class player as Matt Orford (as a replacement) so both parties were happy.

“I’d like to think I’ll get a warm welcome. Part of me will always be at Bradford. I had 12 wonderful years there and enjoyed every minute of them. It will be strange walking into the away dressing room, without a doubt.”

Bradford coach Steve McNamara believes the goalkicking scrumhalf, who appeared in six Grand Finals with the Bulls and broke the club’s scoring records, will have nothing to fear on his return but insists there will be no place for sentiment come kick-off against the undefeated Engage Super League leaders.

“He will get a warm reception because he was tremendous for us,” said McNamara.

“He didn’t really get a chance to say goodbye because he left in the close season and we will welcome him and his family back but come Friday night it’s business as usual for the Bulls.”

Champions Leeds Rhinos will be looking to bounce back from their bruising Gillette World Club Challenge defeat when they take on struggling Harlequins RL at Headingley tomorrow.

The Rhinos are without skipper Kevin Sinfield but their problems pale into insignificance compared to the plight of their opponents, who are without seven players through injury and have seen two others leave the club since the turn of the year.

Harlequins coach Brian McDermott says the club are at a loss to explain their early-season injury crisis but he is remaining defiant.

“Every time it happens we have internal investigations,” he said. “I sit down and ask pressing questions to both the coaches and backroom staff.

“We monitor what we do in training, we sometimes under-train as we can’t afford more injuries and you question yourself if you’re going too light which is a horrible situation to be in.

“Every time we’ve been in this situation, there’s never been a definitive answer. If you look at the injuries we’ve had, they’re rarely repetitive, they’re popped shoulders, snapped knees, illnesses and each year it’s been to our strike people at the same time.

“It’s a long season and we’re having a tough run at the moment but we’ll have our say this year.”

McDermott has already given Engage Super League debuts to two young Londoners so far this season in Ben Bolger and Martyn Smith and he has called another, 18-year-old prop Olsi Krasniqi, into his initial squad for tomorrow’s match as well as loan signing Kyle Bibb.

Catalans Dragons and Salford City Reds both look to break their duck when they meet at The Willows tomorrow.

The French club are making their fourth trip across the Channel in five weeks but that is the least of coach Kevin Walters’ worries after watching his side concede 144 points in four matches so far, including 58 without reply at Wigan last Friday.

“The travel has caused a few problems but we’re looking to work through it the best we can,” he said.

“We’ve got some bigger problems, defensively we were not up to the standard of Super League last week.

“Basically we’re not trusting our structure in defence and we’re getting a little frustrated with that. They’re trying to fix the problems by themselves rather than through the team. Hopefully, we can fix them this week.”

The Catalans made a slow start last season before rallying to reach the play-offs and Salford coach Shaun McRae says they remain a dangerous side.

“They will be hell-bent on winning and so will we so that in itself could provide a really good game,” he said.

“The thing about sides that are soundly beaten is they have two ways to go. They either lose confidence or bounce back really well.

“With a side that has the prowess, the confidence and individual flair of the Catalans Dragons that worries me a little because that makes them a real dangerous side.”

Castleford Tigers look to end a three-match losing run by repeating last year’s victory over Hull FC at the KC Stadium.

The Tigers have failed to build on their opening win at Leeds but coach Terry Matterson insists they are not far away from returning to winning ways.

“We’re in good spirits,” he said. “We’re frustrated but we’re not downhearted.

“The attitude and enthusiasm last week was really good but we’ve got to play smart.

“Of our four games so far, we could have won three but people look at the results and we’re one from four. We’ve got to learn how to win those tight games.”