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'Real mixed bag' admits McNamara
7:17am Monday 19th May 2008
Comments (168) Have your say »
Steve McNamara reckons his Bulls side are guilty of "brain explosions".
They overcame Castleford Tigers yesterday with a 46-24 victory but had to work desperately hard against Super League's bottom side.
We were up and down, something both sides were guilty of, but we have to improve a lot in time for Friday
Steve McNamara
Bradford trailed twice in the first half, having gone behind 10-0 and then 16-14.
It needed a clinical three-try burst just before the break from Sam Burgess, Glenn Morrison and Jamie Langley to take the steam out of Cas.
McNamara said: "We scored some pretty spectacular rugby league tries but also really hurt ourselves with some proper brain explosions.
"It was a real mixed bag for us but I'm very pleased we managed to come and get the job done at a place like Cas.
"They have taken two major scalps here already and put us under pressure; we always knew they'd come out firing."
The Bulls pulled clear in the second half, finishing with eight tries, but McNamara knows they must shape up massively before the visit of table-toppers Leeds on Friday night.
"We were very good going forward in spells and likewise defensively too," he said.
"But at other stages we definitely weren't. We were up and down, something both sides were guilty of, but we have to improve a lot in time for Friday.
"We have got some individuals coming into form but we've got a short turnaround before Leeds so we're a little bit behind the starting blocks there."
Bradford were also forced into an early reshuffle when Chris Nero departed with a broken collar bone on 13 minutes.
The centre is likely to be missing for six weeks and McNamara admitted: "That was a big loss for us."
He had intended using Tame Tupou as a replacement prop but the big Kiwi again had to go to his usual wing position - like against Leeds in Cardiff - leaving the Bulls boss a forward rotation light.
Meanwhile, McNamara surprisingly left form player Dave Halley out of the 17.
He explained: "Full-back is a very demanding position. For a young lad, Dave's come in and done outstandingly well but he'd missed a lot of the previous week before Catalans through illness and looked like he was starting to get a little jaded.
"He was a bit frayed around the edges and you could see that in his training so I decided to give him a rest."
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Your Say YourBradford
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
10:34pm Tue 20 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
10:34pm Tue 20 May 08
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
1:12pm Tue 20 May 08
Adrian wrote:Ive always thought he was overrated.
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote: Leeds should have taken Nero, he's babba.Lesley Vainikolo was rubbish when he first joined us. Andy Lynch was poor in his first season. Some players just take longer to settle in.
Chris Nero has no potential whatsoever.
He is a basic, slow and predictable player who looked decent at a small club, he no longer looks so good at a club that places high demands upon their players.
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
1:12pm Tue 20 May 08
Adrian wrote:Ive always thought he was overrated.
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote: Leeds should have taken Nero, he's babba.Lesley Vainikolo was rubbish when he first joined us. Andy Lynch was poor in his first season. Some players just take longer to settle in.
Chris Nero has no potential whatsoever.
He is a basic, slow and predictable player who looked decent at a small club, he no longer looks so good at a club that places high demands upon their players.
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
1:12pm Tue 20 May 08
Adrian wrote:Ive always thought he was overrated.
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote: Leeds should have taken Nero, he's babba.Lesley Vainikolo was rubbish when he first joined us. Andy Lynch was poor in his first season. Some players just take longer to settle in.
Chris Nero has no potential whatsoever.
He is a basic, slow and predictable player who looked decent at a small club, he no longer looks so good at a club that places high demands upon their players.
Adrian, Bradford says...
10:10am Tue 20 May 08
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote:Lesley Vainikolo was rubbish when he first joined us. Andy Lynch was poor in his first season. Some players just take longer to settle in.
Leeds should have taken Nero, he's babba.
Adrian, Bradford says...
10:10am Tue 20 May 08
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote:Lesley Vainikolo was rubbish when he first joined us. Andy Lynch was poor in his first season. Some players just take longer to settle in.
Leeds should have taken Nero, he's babba.
Adrian, Bradford says...
10:10am Tue 20 May 08
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote:Lesley Vainikolo was rubbish when he first joined us. Andy Lynch was poor in his first season. Some players just take longer to settle in.
Leeds should have taken Nero, he's babba.
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
10:04am Tue 20 May 08
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
10:04am Tue 20 May 08
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
10:04am Tue 20 May 08
Adrian, Bradford says...
10:01am Tue 20 May 08
kennyr wrote:No offence, but I wouldn't want McGuire. He's a one-trick pony. Good support player but can't pass, kick or tackle!
flashdonut wrote: 'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
Finnigan and Halley have been two of our best players this year. I'd like to see Tupou have a shot at prop. Solomona just need the support and Kopczak isn't getting long enough on the pitch.
As for Nero, I think you'll find that Leeds did approach him at the same time as us...so yeah, I think he'd get in the Leeds team!
Adrian, Bradford says...
10:01am Tue 20 May 08
kennyr wrote:No offence, but I wouldn't want McGuire. He's a one-trick pony. Good support player but can't pass, kick or tackle!
flashdonut wrote: 'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
Finnigan and Halley have been two of our best players this year. I'd like to see Tupou have a shot at prop. Solomona just need the support and Kopczak isn't getting long enough on the pitch.
As for Nero, I think you'll find that Leeds did approach him at the same time as us...so yeah, I think he'd get in the Leeds team!
Adrian, Bradford says...
10:01am Tue 20 May 08
kennyr wrote:No offence, but I wouldn't want McGuire. He's a one-trick pony. Good support player but can't pass, kick or tackle!
flashdonut wrote: 'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
Finnigan and Halley have been two of our best players this year. I'd like to see Tupou have a shot at prop. Solomona just need the support and Kopczak isn't getting long enough on the pitch.
As for Nero, I think you'll find that Leeds did approach him at the same time as us...so yeah, I think he'd get in the Leeds team!
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
9:49am Tue 20 May 08
Bullschamps2008 wrote:The fact that Hape and Harris are Out of Contract this year may lend weight to the rumours off them leaving.
thats what league express said was rumoured and with harris and hape going u never no... rumour also shenton from cas and wheeldon from hull
With Deny McGuire under a watertight contract until 09 there is absolutley no chance of him joining Bradford without a transfer fee being paid, which we just dont have.
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
9:49am Tue 20 May 08
Bullschamps2008 wrote:The fact that Hape and Harris are Out of Contract this year may lend weight to the rumours off them leaving.
thats what league express said was rumoured and with harris and hape going u never no... rumour also shenton from cas and wheeldon from hull
With Deny McGuire under a watertight contract until 09 there is absolutley no chance of him joining Bradford without a transfer fee being paid, which we just dont have.
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
9:49am Tue 20 May 08
Bullschamps2008 wrote:The fact that Hape and Harris are Out of Contract this year may lend weight to the rumours off them leaving.
thats what league express said was rumoured and with harris and hape going u never no... rumour also shenton from cas and wheeldon from hull
With Deny McGuire under a watertight contract until 09 there is absolutley no chance of him joining Bradford without a transfer fee being paid, which we just dont have.
drakeman, 2 mins from the bulls says...
9:02am Tue 20 May 08
Why would he leave a championship side to come to us we would need to improve BIG time tempt him.
I cant wait for friday we,ve hit a bit of form big joe is back and were playing the urinals.
Come on you bulls.
drakeman, 2 mins from the bulls says...
9:02am Tue 20 May 08
Why would he leave a championship side to come to us we would need to improve BIG time tempt him.
I cant wait for friday we,ve hit a bit of form big joe is back and were playing the urinals.
Come on you bulls.
drakeman, 2 mins from the bulls says...
9:02am Tue 20 May 08
Why would he leave a championship side to come to us we would need to improve BIG time tempt him.
I cant wait for friday we,ve hit a bit of form big joe is back and were playing the urinals.
Come on you bulls.
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
7:13am Tue 20 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
7:13am Tue 20 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
7:13am Tue 20 May 08
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
9:49pm Mon 19 May 08
Brass buttons.
We are skint and cant afford a transfer fee.
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
9:49pm Mon 19 May 08
Brass buttons.
We are skint and cant afford a transfer fee.
LeagueJunkie!!!, Lost Again. says...
9:49pm Mon 19 May 08
Brass buttons.
We are skint and cant afford a transfer fee.
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
9:36pm Mon 19 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
9:36pm Mon 19 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
9:36pm Mon 19 May 08
andy, liversedge says...
9:25pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr wrote:they probably wouldent get into a leeds side, but nevertheless we will kick the rhinos backsides on friday night! we owe them big time.
flashdonut wrote: 'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
andy, liversedge says...
9:25pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr wrote:they probably wouldent get into a leeds side, but nevertheless we will kick the rhinos backsides on friday night! we owe them big time.
flashdonut wrote: 'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
andy, liversedge says...
9:25pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr wrote:they probably wouldent get into a leeds side, but nevertheless we will kick the rhinos backsides on friday night! we owe them big time.
flashdonut wrote: 'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
kennyr, bradford says...
8:02pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr, bradford says...
8:02pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr, bradford says...
8:02pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr, bradford says...
7:53pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr, bradford says...
7:53pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr, bradford says...
7:53pm Mon 19 May 08
kennyr, bradford says...
7:45pm Mon 19 May 08
Adrian wrote:Lee Childs is the name of that touch judge. Im amased you honestly think Tupou should be a Bulls player, 'get rid' along with Soly, Finnigan, Nero, Halley & Kopczak!
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote: Decent effort from boths sides, we looked great at times but also dumb at others, we also should have got stuck in and gave them some fist. Some good performances, even Michael Platt had a good game, except a dumb offload which again resulted in a turnover and an opposition try. Did anybody hear that fool come on touchline on real radio and say Westerman made Burgess look like a schoolboy?Halley was rested after he'd been ill leading up to the Catalan game so I think he'll make a return. Not a bad game. Huby was lucky to stay on after some woeful refereeing and "that" touch judge has got something against us. A stupid call for a forward pass and he cost us the final eliminator at Hull FC two years ago! The pack is absolutely superb this year. Not one of them seems to have a bad game. Andy Lynch was immense, Burgess hitting some good lines and Paul Sykes try was as good as any you'll see from Leeds & Saints. Downside, I don't think Nero at centre was a great idea. He's much better at backrow and looked a little "rabbit in the headlights" when Shenton was running at him. Platt's last line of defence needs to improve but he showed plenty of pace and agility. Tupou really needs to get a shot at Prop or backrow. Good leg drive but definately NOT a winger!!! Not bad, but we need to improve to beat the Rhinos. Tighten up in defence and keep Tupou off the wing.
kennyr, bradford says...
7:45pm Mon 19 May 08
Adrian wrote:Lee Childs is the name of that touch judge. Im amased you honestly think Tupou should be a Bulls player, 'get rid' along with Soly, Finnigan, Nero, Halley & Kopczak!
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote: Decent effort from boths sides, we looked great at times but also dumb at others, we also should have got stuck in and gave them some fist. Some good performances, even Michael Platt had a good game, except a dumb offload which again resulted in a turnover and an opposition try. Did anybody hear that fool come on touchline on real radio and say Westerman made Burgess look like a schoolboy?Halley was rested after he'd been ill leading up to the Catalan game so I think he'll make a return. Not a bad game. Huby was lucky to stay on after some woeful refereeing and "that" touch judge has got something against us. A stupid call for a forward pass and he cost us the final eliminator at Hull FC two years ago! The pack is absolutely superb this year. Not one of them seems to have a bad game. Andy Lynch was immense, Burgess hitting some good lines and Paul Sykes try was as good as any you'll see from Leeds & Saints. Downside, I don't think Nero at centre was a great idea. He's much better at backrow and looked a little "rabbit in the headlights" when Shenton was running at him. Platt's last line of defence needs to improve but he showed plenty of pace and agility. Tupou really needs to get a shot at Prop or backrow. Good leg drive but definately NOT a winger!!! Not bad, but we need to improve to beat the Rhinos. Tighten up in defence and keep Tupou off the wing.
kennyr, bradford says...
7:45pm Mon 19 May 08
Adrian wrote:Lee Childs is the name of that touch judge. Im amased you honestly think Tupou should be a Bulls player, 'get rid' along with Soly, Finnigan, Nero, Halley & Kopczak!
LeagueJunkie!!! wrote: Decent effort from boths sides, we looked great at times but also dumb at others, we also should have got stuck in and gave them some fist. Some good performances, even Michael Platt had a good game, except a dumb offload which again resulted in a turnover and an opposition try. Did anybody hear that fool come on touchline on real radio and say Westerman made Burgess look like a schoolboy?Halley was rested after he'd been ill leading up to the Catalan game so I think he'll make a return. Not a bad game. Huby was lucky to stay on after some woeful refereeing and "that" touch judge has got something against us. A stupid call for a forward pass and he cost us the final eliminator at Hull FC two years ago! The pack is absolutely superb this year. Not one of them seems to have a bad game. Andy Lynch was immense, Burgess hitting some good lines and Paul Sykes try was as good as any you'll see from Leeds & Saints. Downside, I don't think Nero at centre was a great idea. He's much better at backrow and looked a little "rabbit in the headlights" when Shenton was running at him. Platt's last line of defence needs to improve but he showed plenty of pace and agility. Tupou really needs to get a shot at Prop or backrow. Good leg drive but definately NOT a winger!!! Not bad, but we need to improve to beat the Rhinos. Tighten up in defence and keep Tupou off the wing.
kennyr, bradford says...
7:28pm Mon 19 May 08
flashdonut wrote:Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?
kennyr, bradford says...
7:28pm Mon 19 May 08
flashdonut wrote:Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?
kennyr, bradford says...
7:28pm Mon 19 May 08
flashdonut wrote:Answer this, would Halley, Finnigan, Nero, Kopczak, Solomona & Tupou get into the Leeds team, Ha Ha don't me me LARF.
'Brain Explosions'? How about the dropping of Halley, the only player that has played consistentlyt over the last 8 or 9 games?
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
7:07pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie wrote:First of all it's now Gratton Stadium not Odsal and secondly we've heard "nothing" for the best part of the last decade and we've all been "bored of it" for many years.LOL!!
whats happening with odsal im becoming bored off hearing nothing, if it aint goin happen why are not saying anything!!!
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
7:07pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie wrote:First of all it's now Gratton Stadium not Odsal and secondly we've heard "nothing" for the best part of the last decade and we've all been "bored of it" for many years.LOL!!
whats happening with odsal im becoming bored off hearing nothing, if it aint goin happen why are not saying anything!!!
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
7:07pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie wrote:First of all it's now Gratton Stadium not Odsal and secondly we've heard "nothing" for the best part of the last decade and we've all been "bored of it" for many years.LOL!!
whats happening with odsal im becoming bored off hearing nothing, if it aint goin happen why are not saying anything!!!
pottsie, skipton says...
6:50pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie, skipton says...
6:50pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie, skipton says...
6:50pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie, skipton says...
6:49pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie, skipton says...
6:49pm Mon 19 May 08
pottsie, skipton says...
6:49pm Mon 19 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
5:54pm Mon 19 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
5:54pm Mon 19 May 08
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
5:54pm Mon 19 May 08
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:50pm Mon 19 May 08
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:50pm Mon 19 May 08
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:50pm Mon 19 May 08
damo, wibsey says...
5:30pm Mon 19 May 08
damo, wibsey says...
5:30pm Mon 19 May 08
damo, wibsey says...
5:30pm Mon 19 May 08
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:27pm Mon 19 May 08
Sp00ky wrote:You may be right spookey. Sometimes coaching and general training methods can, as you say, be the cause of injuries. I often think the top sides tend to have less injuries because of the way they approach training and tackling methods etc.
haitch wrote: Yes I agree a change of coach often lifts a failing side and this may be no exception.However, I reckon the Bulls on song will be too strong for a 'lifted' Hull. Strange how Sharp didn't work out at Hull. He has a fine pedigree as a coach. Perhaps there's more to it than we know.one thing i have also picked up on, the amount of injuries they have had in the past few seasons and not little injuries either. People constantly breaking/fracturing and dislocating bones at an alarming rate and frequency! Richard Whiting being the latest with a broken leg over the weekend!!!!! That would maybe point to the coaching staff surley?
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:27pm Mon 19 May 08
Sp00ky wrote:You may be right spookey. Sometimes coaching and general training methods can, as you say, be the cause of injuries. I often think the top sides tend to have less injuries because of the way they approach training and tackling methods etc.
haitch wrote: Yes I agree a change of coach often lifts a failing side and this may be no exception.However, I reckon the Bulls on song will be too strong for a 'lifted' Hull. Strange how Sharp didn't work out at Hull. He has a fine pedigree as a coach. Perhaps there's more to it than we know.one thing i have also picked up on, the amount of injuries they have had in the past few seasons and not little injuries either. People constantly breaking/fracturing and dislocating bones at an alarming rate and frequency! Richard Whiting being the latest with a broken leg over the weekend!!!!! That would maybe point to the coaching staff surley?
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:27pm Mon 19 May 08
Sp00ky wrote:You may be right spookey. Sometimes coaching and general training methods can, as you say, be the cause of injuries. I often think the top sides tend to have less injuries because of the way they approach training and tackling methods etc.
haitch wrote: Yes I agree a change of coach often lifts a failing side and this may be no exception.However, I reckon the Bulls on song will be too strong for a 'lifted' Hull. Strange how Sharp didn't work out at Hull. He has a fine pedigree as a coach. Perhaps there's more to it than we know.one thing i have also picked up on, the amount of injuries they have had in the past few seasons and not little injuries either. People constantly breaking/fracturing and dislocating bones at an alarming rate and frequency! Richard Whiting being the latest with a broken leg over the weekend!!!!! That would maybe point to the coaching staff surley?
Bullschamps2008, Bradford says...
10:34pm Tue 20 May 08