Disappointed Steve McNamara admits his Bulls side were not smart enough after blowing their chance of an opening day Super League win.

Skipper Paul Deacon kicked a 78th-minute drop goal to put his side in front for the first time against Hull KR yesterday.

When Rovers were penalised soon after, Bradford just had to run down the clock but lost possession and Mick Dobson levelled the contest 13-13 with the last kick of the match.

Despite dominating possession, the hosts trailed throughout until Deacon’s late intervention but McNamara insisted: “It was a point lost, without a doubt.

“When you go in front and then from the kick-off get a penalty, you run that set out to win the game.

“So for us to draw, there’s no two ways about it, it’s a point lost.

“There was a tremendous amount of effort and courage to get back into the match and then into a winning position, but we weren’t very smart at the death.

“I thought we completely dominated for the majority. Their goal-line defence was very good but so was ours.

“It was a typical start-of-season game as we were a little bit out of sync in some areas but there was a whole lot of good things too and it will get a whole lot better.”

Former Aussie Test star Steve Menzies made an impressive debut while Glenn Morrison was also outstanding but the Bulls lost two other back-rowers with dislocated shoulders.

Internationals Jamie Langley and David Solomona are both set for spells on the sidelines after suffering painful injuries which also disrupted the Bulls’ cohesiveness.

“Langers’ shoulder wouldn’t go back in so he’s gone off in the ambulance,” said McNamara, who has already been hit by Greg Bird’s failure to gain a visa.

“It wasn’t a great way to start the season but we’ll cope with the players we’ve got.”