So we missed the playoffs and finished 9th, therefore Macca couldnt get s firing when things wern't working ot.

I was wondering why you haven't been on in a while.


I know what you mean with your second point, although I can't help thinking an under 11's game plan would be slightly more structured than ours.

I've seen Red reading, i knew he was dieing to post.

Good to see you back Red.

And yes indeed, on Sunday there seemed no evidence at all that anything had been learned from last season.

Whilst much of the Huddersfield game could be attributed to rustiness, lack of experience with new combinations, and just generally being a tiny bit off the pace, the St.Helens game was nothing short of shocking in terms of attitudes, commitment and general basic techniques one would be taught as a junior, such as tackling man and ball.

It was the first time I wondered if McNamara is the right man to take us any further. It's undeniable he's had hard circumstances to overhaul when he took charge, but this is unquestionably his team now, and if they fail this season you do feel, and I'm sure he does too, that his head will be on the chopping block.

However, we're only two games in, and ten games down the line we could be flying. Could be!

Surely even the most Die Hard fans have given up on Macca now? I mean "we were rusty" we played 4 friendlies. More like the players have become stale playing out the same old predictable routines. Routines and sets that everybody can read, routines that have demotivated the players and are alienating the fans. They then role out the players to defend the rubbish we are being fed on a weekly basis, and they can't even think of anything new to say. Ah well more of the same come Friday I suppose! And on National Telly, it gets better and better....

Our 6 and 7 played one trial game together, it's gonna take more than that for them to click. But as I said, the commitment was direly lacking on Sunday, something which is unacceptable. I'll quote RER's sig if I mayI can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying. [/i

I was a fan of giving McNamara another chance. Last years side was a poor one, and he rallied them. But this year, with a decent half-back combination, less passengers and a new conditioner, he really has no excuses for us not performing.

Hope he can pull it round but there really is very little evidence to say he is the man to do it.

Possibly true.

How have they started the season, btw? I mean, with a coach like that obviously they'll be top, but just out of interest?

Don't agree with that, we had long spells where we tried our bollox off to get to their end and stay there and score, and so I don't think lack of effort was the reason. The U11 analogy did strike a chord though as I said to the bloke next to me that the long but fruitless assault on their line reminded me of "dads v lads", where the dads were defending with one hand on the head while the lads thrashed about, until they got fed up of it and ran down the other end. Maybe unfair, but that's what it reminded me of.

Lack of effort is fanspeak for cr.p. Another translation required is wrst perormance I've seen in x decades if watching Northern and Bulls, which actually means poor performance that occured very recently, as opposed to Leigh 94, London 03, Saints 05 etc etc.

I thought that heads went down after conceding the first try and the rest of the first half showed a lack of committment in defence. Players were dropping off tackles far too easily and lacking in purpose. That along with the beaming smiles on the faces of Hall and L'Strange at the end of the game left a bitter taste in my mouth.

We may have made more of an effort in the second half but it was let down by a complete lack of focus or plan. We lacked direction and panicked whenever we were on the attack.

The side is obviously lacking in confidence, and is prone to giving up for periods of the game. When the effort is there they lack direction. These are all pretty fundamental problems. The U11s analogy is a bit unfair but in some ways correct as we have experienced professionals who are playing like novices. They all know that you need to run onto the ball at pace, they all know that a flat attacking line offers less of a threat to the defence, they all know that having dummy runners creates space, they all know that concentration is key in defence. I could go on but you get the gist. The problem is that despite knowing what they should be doing they do the opposite when under any pressure.

Well get your heads down and do it. If McNamara really is putting that much effort in, then surely that shifts a tiny bit more blame onto the players? Maybe this week he's spent some time developing a proper gameplan though?

Macca thinks hammering will benefit Bulls: www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... dford.html Didn't we hear this a few times last year after drubbings and we never really bounced back as expected.

Macca thinks hammering will benefit Bulls: www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... dford.html Didn't we hear this a few times last year after drubbings and we never really bounced back as expected.

As I've said, I've all this stuff before, it's now time for the team to follow it up on the field - something they've managed all too rarely. It's easy to talk the talk but walking the walk is another matter.