Harris was a rare talent. If you don't agree then as far as I'm concerned you either don't actually know a great player when you see one, or else you're just making mischief.

Despite Harris's lack of pace it's clear that we're missing his playmaking abilities this season.

Very much so. Who do you think was more put out and had their confidence knocked by the move for Bird? I always assumed it would be Jeffries, as the obvious casualty, but maybe Deacon saw it as a sort of vote of no confidence in him?

If either of them have such fragile egos I'd be surprised and disappointed. We've operated with 3+ halfbacks in the squad for more than 10 years, it's common sense. To just have two leaves you massively exposed in the event of injury or loss of form as we can see.

We may have done, but Bird would obviously have been The Man if acquired, and on the most money. Not sure about "fragile egos", but at the start of the season both have seemed woefully short of confidence. Jeffries has definitely and markedly improved - Wigan game excluded - but Deacon seems a shadow of the player he's been. It must be down to something.

Is it possible that if we're looking at a player from overseas that we might be applying for a visa before making an announcement? Suppose we can live in hope, the Jeffries/Deacon combo is a depressing thought based on the season so far.

I am confident they will improve on what we've seen so far but surely if a halfback is available then we should be making some enquiries. I believe the NZ Warriors were willing to discuss releasing Witt, an old mate of Menzies perhaps?

Bird and Deacon would've probably remained first choice with Jeffries on the bench. However if Harris could put up with warming the bench last season and Robbie Paul before him then Jeffries and Deacon need to "man up" and accept the decision for the good of the team.

I wonder if Deacs is feeling the effects of a few injuries. I hope it's just form but it could be he's not able to do what he did a few years back.

Ok

I'm not making mischief (might have been in a mood last night though), just think great is an overstatement

Maybe we are missing him but I also think the fact he turned down a superleague contract shows he'd physically had enough so thats not an option.

I also can't help but think Jeffries has more to offer us than we are seeing from him- is it the players or is it the plays ? again I'm not sure

That was said on the terraces around us on Sun, a couple of times it almost looked like he was focusing on avoiding any potential collisions rather than focusing on where he and the ball were going next.

Could be reading too much into it mind as that has never struck me as a problem with him in previous seasons - so it could just be the general maliase and lack of confidence that the whole team seem to be suffering from. He does need to challenge the line with ball in hand more effectively more often though as the Hull defence didnt seem too worried by his threat and could focus their attention elsewhere it seemed to me.

I dont see dropping him for no adequate replacement would help either, or taking the captaincy off him.

"Apparently" Harris was offered a one year extension by the Bulls but wanted a 2 year contract. I think its a shame he has gone, just for the Bulls fans to point fingers in other directions (Deacon, Jefferies, Platt etc) Last year Iestyn was your scape goat, whose it gonna be this year? I hope Not Deacon because he's been a good servant to your club. But in the 4 games ive seen him play this year, he's not cutting it. If Bradford we're aware of frailties at 6 or 7 (Greg Bird being approach) but havent done anything about it, maybe its not Deacon that needs dropping but a non playing member of staff???