Ben Jeffries: Three ex-Bulls were eager to face Bradford and we're all out

WHAT a freak injury. I had been given kicking duties again this week and was getting some practice in ready for Bradford.

However, as I lined another up, when I went to kick the ball my quad decided to give way, as simple as that.

Now I'm out and I've no idea for how long. It is frustrating. I did my quad earlier in the season but this is in a different spot and I don't think it's quite as bad.

Anyway, Paul Cooke should come in now and I imagine he'll be the one doing the kicking.

There were three of us who signed from Bradford last year looking forward to this one and now none of us will be playing.

Glenn Morrison is injured, like me, while Terry Newton has obviously gone.

It should be an interesting game. We're pretty close to each other in the table.

Bradford are in the middle of the top eight and we're on the fringes. We both need to get a few more wins to establish ourselves over the next few weeks and, at Wakefield, we know we have to start on Friday.

We have had a week off, being out of the cup, so we are refreshed and we're ready to go.

Bradford will be confident coming to Belle Vue but over the last two years they've been beaten both times there by Wakefield. I know because I was in those Bradford sides.

Bulls have had a lot of signings come in and players go out this year – it's been like that there for the last three or four seasons – and they had a slow start.

But they've come good recently and have lost just once in their last eight. They are one of the form sides and the players who have come in are starting to make their mark. It's going to be a tough job for us.

When Brett Kearney signed it was said he'd be coming from Cronulla as a replacement for me at stand-off but I always thought he'd end up playing full-back. I wasn't too surprised with the shuffling that has seen him end up there. Sometimes it doesn't pay to take too much notice about what number a player's got on his back.

Kearney has fitted in quite well and he's a bloke we need to stop while Paul Sykes is now at stand-off. He's played for England and is equally a good player.

I've no regrets about what happened at Bradford. I wanted to come back to Wakefield this year. It's my club and it's my home. I've a lot of friends here and I like playing under John Kear.

I didn't enjoy my game as much at Bradford and I know I played better footy with Wakefield. I've been quite happy with my form this season and I work very well with John. One of the reasons I came back is my relationship with him.

However, it's been a kick in the teeth seeing all the players going recently – you could say we've lost five influential players in the last six weeks either through moving on (Dannny Brough, Shane Tronc) or getting injured (Morrison, Daryl Millard).

We've come through the other side, maybe not with the win, but the performances are getting better. Our aim is to cement ourselves in the play-off spots and that is what we'll be trying to do with victory over the Bulls.

Interview by Dave Craven