Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:07 am  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Powell couldn't do it with a Cas side that were underdogs and fell apart in the playoffs/Cup Final, so why could he do it with England?

More time and more resources,perhaps?

[Bullseye]

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:13 pm  

TBF all touring parties have discipline problems.

Mal Reilly was/is a much scarier prosepct than Shaun Wane yet players still went off the rails in 1990 and 1992 when Reilly was GB coach. Bobbie Goulding ended up in court and Lee Crooks and Andy Gregory went off on one (according to their own biographies).

I expect there are many more stories that never got out.

It comes with the territory.

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:29 pm  

All said and done, does anyone feel the slightest bit sorry for McNamara? He was minutes away from taking England to a World Cup final, a finger tip away from a victory over Australia last week and a couple of missed conversions from beating the Kiwis.

Must be hard to take for the bloke.

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:33 pm  

John Gilbert Reds wrote:

a finger tip away from a victory over Australia last week

I keep reading this from a few sources.

We weren't a finger tip away from anything. We were a fair TV ref away from knocking Australia out. That same TV ref is back on duty this weekend.

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:44 pm  

Colly2 wrote:

I keep reading this from a few sources.

We weren't a finger tip away from anything. We were a fair TV ref away from knocking Australia out. That same TV ref is back on duty this weekend.

Point being, McNamara has been desperately unlucky at crucial times of the game.

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:46 pm  

John Gilbert Reds wrote:

Point being, McNamara has been desperately unlucky at crucial times of the game.

I agree.

It's just that I'm still sore!

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:01 pm  

John Gilbert Reds wrote:

Point being, McNamara has been desperately unlucky at crucial times of the game.

How true! Just shows how narrow the margins are between winning and losing at top level RL. Never Mac's biggest fan but can't help but feel sorry for him - he nearly got England to the World Cup final and now he's nearly got England to the Four Nations!

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:03 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Despite having little time for him previously, I think persisting with McNamara may be the best option - the team is clearly a work in progress but the fact that there is progress is good. I'd take soundings from the senior players though. McDermott may be an option if they feel McNamara is done.

No way can Wane be involved with England - it's just inappropriate after the background to the Flower scandal and given what most elite players think of the Wigan approach to Rugby League.

Most of the elite players in England are coached by Wane. Nearly all the rest used to be.

[Bullseye]

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:26 pm  

Total Number of players in England 2014 4 Nations Squad – 24

Total number currently coached or once coached by Shaun Wane - 8

Re: McNamara to go : Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:56 pm  

But I'm sure the other 16 wished they were.