McNamara to Arrest Bradford Slump : Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:25 pm
Super League Website wrote:
Bradford Bulls coach Steve McNamara is determined to turn around his side's ailing fortunes, starting with the visit of champions Leeds Rhinos in tonight's engage Super League derby at Odsal.
McNamara has overseen the Bulls’ worst start to a Super League campaign, and watched them throw away a 26-0 half-time lead en route to defeat by Catalans Dragons in the Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round last weekend.
But he says he is relishing the chance to prove his ability as a head coach.
"There are no worse or sorer losers at this time than myself and the players and, if we could have got back out on the field again on Monday, then we would have," McNamara said.
"It's a job we all love and me certainly. I have a fantastic passion for this game. I embrace the challenge of getting ourselves out of this situation.
"It's an opportunity for me as a coach to prove to everyone that I can deal with these situations."
Leeds, too, will be aiming to quickly put their Challenge Cup disappointment behind them as they look to return to the top of the table following St Helens' 19-12 win at Wigan Warriors last night.
Rhinos coach Brian McClennan believes his side's 22-18 defeat by Saints could actually help them in their bid to complete a hat-trick of Super League titles.
"It goes without saying that everyone was bitterly disappointed to lose that game but we cannot turn back the clock and we have to move forward now as a group," he said.
"The one bright spot to come out of the defeat is the chance to have some periods during the season when we can either do extra training or rest players where necessary to make sure we are in the best possible shape come the play-offs."
Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants will both be aiming to keep in touch with Leeds and St Helens when they entertain Wakefield Wildcats and Celtic Crusaders respectively.
The Tigers will be without full-back Ryan McGoldrick for only the second time since their return to Super League 18 months ago after the Australian was handed a two-match ban for striking, which has given teenager Richard Owen the opening he craves.
"McGoldrick has been good for us," said coach Terry Matterson. "He's a different sort of full-back so we need to do things a little differently.
"Richard Owen has been chomping at the bit to play full-back and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do."
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown is happy to change a winning team to accommodate new signing Liam Fulton, who makes his debut against bottom-of-the-table Celtic Crusaders at the Galpharm Stadium.
The 24-year-old Wests Tigers utility player is likely to start on the bench as the Giants prepare for the first of three matches in nine days.
"We basically have the whole squad fit and then another player of Liam's quality probably couldn't have come at a better time," said Brown.
"He can play loose forward or stand-off or he can play on the edge of the back row.
"There are a number of positions he is comfortable in but regardless of where he plays he is going to be bring some creativity to our team and he also kicks the ball reasonably well which is an area of our game that can definitely improve."
Fulton, whose last competitive match was last August, said: "I'll play just where I can fit in, what's best for the team."
McNamara has overseen the Bulls’ worst start to a Super League campaign, and watched them throw away a 26-0 half-time lead en route to defeat by Catalans Dragons in the Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round last weekend.
But he says he is relishing the chance to prove his ability as a head coach.
"There are no worse or sorer losers at this time than myself and the players and, if we could have got back out on the field again on Monday, then we would have," McNamara said.
"It's a job we all love and me certainly. I have a fantastic passion for this game. I embrace the challenge of getting ourselves out of this situation.
"It's an opportunity for me as a coach to prove to everyone that I can deal with these situations."
Leeds, too, will be aiming to quickly put their Challenge Cup disappointment behind them as they look to return to the top of the table following St Helens' 19-12 win at Wigan Warriors last night.
Rhinos coach Brian McClennan believes his side's 22-18 defeat by Saints could actually help them in their bid to complete a hat-trick of Super League titles.
"It goes without saying that everyone was bitterly disappointed to lose that game but we cannot turn back the clock and we have to move forward now as a group," he said.
"The one bright spot to come out of the defeat is the chance to have some periods during the season when we can either do extra training or rest players where necessary to make sure we are in the best possible shape come the play-offs."
Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants will both be aiming to keep in touch with Leeds and St Helens when they entertain Wakefield Wildcats and Celtic Crusaders respectively.
The Tigers will be without full-back Ryan McGoldrick for only the second time since their return to Super League 18 months ago after the Australian was handed a two-match ban for striking, which has given teenager Richard Owen the opening he craves.
"McGoldrick has been good for us," said coach Terry Matterson. "He's a different sort of full-back so we need to do things a little differently.
"Richard Owen has been chomping at the bit to play full-back and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do."
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown is happy to change a winning team to accommodate new signing Liam Fulton, who makes his debut against bottom-of-the-table Celtic Crusaders at the Galpharm Stadium.
The 24-year-old Wests Tigers utility player is likely to start on the bench as the Giants prepare for the first of three matches in nine days.
"We basically have the whole squad fit and then another player of Liam's quality probably couldn't have come at a better time," said Brown.
"He can play loose forward or stand-off or he can play on the edge of the back row.
"There are a number of positions he is comfortable in but regardless of where he plays he is going to be bring some creativity to our team and he also kicks the ball reasonably well which is an area of our game that can definitely improve."
Fulton, whose last competitive match was last August, said: "I'll play just where I can fit in, what's best for the team."
