Bulls want to build own fortress at Addington

Caroline King | Friday, April 20, 2007 5:00

Mirroring the Crusaders at Jade, the Canterbury Bulls are proud of Rugby League Park being the most daunting venue for Bartercard Cup teams to visit.

And after a disappointing start to 2007 with a loss at Waitakere last week, the Bulls aim to set the pattern for 2007 when they play their first home match on Sunday against Waicoa Bay Stallions.

Winning at Addington is doubly important this time, for the match is the Bulls' only home game in their first five. "If we get a win at home and a couple on the road it would be pretty handy, and then we've got three or four at home," said coach Brent Stuart.

With their challenging start the 2007 draw has obviously done the Bulls no favours. "But it comes out and you've got to go with it," he said.

The Bulls wanted to make their home ground a difficult place to visit again this year, and expected to beat teams like the Stallions, he said.

After the 20-42 loss to Waitakere the players got "a right old hammering" on defensive work at training this week, said Stuart.

Technique was poor in Auckland and they fell off too many tackles.

There was an issue with handling errors and they were went back to the basics at training, "learning how to catch and pass again," he said.

"Probably the majority of mistakes last weekend were things we should have been a wee bit better at," he said.

"It definitely wasn't as good as it has been and I wouldn't imagine we would be that bad again in the middle of the park."

Waitakere were pretty formidable, and the match was a good introduction to Bartercard Cup for some new players, he said. Six Bulls were playing at this level for the first time.

However, the Bulls were not helped by some forced reshuffling last week.

Clearances failed to arrive in time for Peter Asi, who is expected to bring more physical presence to the side, and Layne Green. The two have been playing in Australia.

The Bulls also lost experienced Jonny Limmer in the opening minutes, and then Leon Boyd and Joseph Pombo with injuries. Limmer could be out for some time with his knee injury ? a big blow for the Bulls ? but Stuart hopes to have both Boyd and Pombo in action on Sunday.

And the chance is there for local premier players to show Stuart and his management team what they can do when they check out matches tomorrow.

Lusi Sione returns at fullback on Sunday, with Green on the bench covering fullback, wing, or centre.