Macca claims team spirit can kick-start push for play-offs (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Macca claims team spirit can kick-start push for play-offs
7:40am Saturday 4th July 2009 in
Countdowns usually start at ten, and that’s certainly the case for Bradford Bulls tomorrow.
After the visit of Castleford Tigers, there will only be a single-digit number of games left for the Bulls to begin their hoped-for climb from their current position of 12th into the top eight.
And Bulls head coach Steve McNamara believes team spirit can be a vital factor in propelling them towards the play-offs.
He said: “The coaches and myself try and create a good working environment which we hope nurtures progress and enjoyment, and a whole host of other things. They are a good bunch of players and they obviously get on very well together.
“That will help us over the final ten games of the regular season when matches are in the balance.”
Bulls skipper Paul Deacon, who is in his 11th season at the club, agreed, saying: “I have played in some teams with great team spirit, and this is no worse than any of them.”
McNamara added: “It is a vital part of the season for any successful team, and our team must be successful but there is still a long way to go.
“We certainly aren’t feeling sorry for ourselves. In our last four performances, since the second half of the season started, we have played a whole lot better.
“We have two wins and two losses but even in the games we lost – against arguably the best two teams in the competition – we showed that we can certainly compete.
“We had opportunities in both games to win them, so we are little bit annoyed we didn’t do better in those games.”
“We are confident we can beat any side in the competition but we haven’t proved it on enough occasions this season.
“It’s about putting all the bits together during a game and doing it every week.
“We have shown in the past four games that we can play well but, with ten games left, we need that kind of consistency every week.
“The players want to improve all the time and they just want to get out there, go a step further and make sure we get the two points.”
Julien Rinaldi misses out for the Bulls with a foot injury and Elliott Whitehead is out with an ankle injury but Wayne Godwin returns after one Reserve Grade match following 15 weeks out with a broken leg.
Comments(13)
haitch
says...
9:50am Sat 4 Jul 09
At first you just had to admire his bottle but taking the fans for fools is a real sign this guy still has plenty to learn.
The reality is, it looks like and feels like the season is over and that the Bulls need to concentrate on bringing this side up to scratch. The best chance they have of achieving this is to accept that the current team is just simply not good enough and stop talking as though it is.
Tricky Dicky
says...
10:28am Sat 4 Jul 09
PWWof Idle
says...
10:39am Sat 4 Jul 09
Steve Mac for the Sack
says...
2:55pm Sat 4 Jul 09
We want to see the team play well and win games, if we don't see that we want answers as to why it isn't happening, and if he can't fix that, as he has shown the we want him to walk.
3 and half year is 3 and a half years to long. It's time either Macca realised he should give it up, move aside and let a real coach come in and do the job, or Peter Hood realises this and does it for him.
I fear that whatever happens from now to the end of the season, it's going to come up short.
t'old man
says...
3:08pm Sat 4 Jul 09
Steve Mac for the Sack
says...
4:09pm Sat 4 Jul 09
Yes because being happy and giving each other hugs improves and develops players.
How about some quality coaching and telling players how it is for a change instead of telling them it's ok and to try harder and it will be ok next time.
I think Steve Mac likes to think he's the player dad and not theirr boss.
kitman
says...
10:40pm Sat 4 Jul 09
Tricky Dicky
says...
11:59pm Sat 4 Jul 09
Bulls 40 Castleford 0
oddshapedballs
says...
9:46am Sun 5 Jul 09
t'old man
says...
1:08pm Sun 5 Jul 09
oddshapedballs wrote:STOP PRESS ....
Latest bit of gossip from Odsal hot on the heels of Lynch to Wigan and Halley to Wakefield etc. Morro is off home at E.o.s. Let's see who has the knowledge!!!
Macca off to jobcentre !!!!!!!!
jammle
says...
5:26pm Sun 5 Jul 09
The guy is a total baffoon.
Steve Mac for the Sack
says...
6:39pm Sun 5 Jul 09
Haha
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Realsupporter says...
9:30am Sat 4 Jul 09