Bulls defence must improve – L’Estrange

Heath L’estrange admitted defence must improve if Bradford are going to back to winning ways anytime soon.

The former Manly star feels that there has been a lack of communication in the Bulls backline, a fact that was most definitely present in their fourth round Challenge Cup tie with Halifax.

Defence does seem to be the underlying issue for the Odsal outfit however the weekly turnaround in players and the ever increasing injury list can’t be helping matters.

L’estrange said: “For us it’s all about communication and if we’re not talking to each other on the field, it’s just not going to work.

“We need to be able to shut games out at key times, we’ve been letting in tries just before half-time and full-time.

“You need people in your defence talking to each other and be wanting to die for each other and to be stopping tries, at the moment it’s just not there.

“We’re scoring tries and we seem to have theses spots in our attack and defence where we’re good but then all of a sudden we fall down. It’s more about being consistent in both than trying to be the hero sometimes.”

Meanwhile the 26-year-old is hoping to extend his stay with the Bulls beyond the 2011 season and talks are underway to seal a new deal for the front rower. For L’estrange, a new deal can’t come soon enough.

He added: “I haven’t heard too much but I was told it’s getting done. I can’t wait for it to be over and done with, you’re thinking about it all the time at home.

“I just want it done and then hopefully I’ll be running around for the next couple of years with Bradford. I want to stay, I love it here.”