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McNamara returns to tight ship
6:30am Tuesday 25th November 2008
Lee St Hilaire hands back the reins to boss Steve McNamara believing the pumped-up Bulls are well on course for 2009.
Along with fellow assistant Basil Richards and conditioner Martin Clawson, St Hilaire has led pre-season while the Odsal chief has been on World Cup duty.
McNamara returned to Bradford yesterday to take command but St Hilaire admits he has thrived in the extra responsibility.
He said: “Personally, I’ve enjoyed it a lot. We had a bit of a taste of it last year when Macca was in Australia then and he put his trust in the members of staff again.
“He gave us all our own assignments knowing he’d be with England down there and we’ve taken care of the little bits.
“Now he’s back in the country he’ll bring the big bits to it all but, as a group of staff, we’ve just got on with it and the players’ response has been really good during these first three weeks.
“They’ve applied themselves very well and came back in good shape, taking heed of what had been said at the end of last season.
“We’ve been pleased with what we’ve seen so far and I’m sure Macca will be pleased with the results when he sees them too.”
A new training programme has been engineered this year and St Hilaire explained: “All the players have been put in different groups.
“We’ve got the speed men together, the engine room players together, the strike men together and so on. They all have specific programmes to help their specific needs and it’s working well.”
Your Say YourBradford
cj, ey says...
2:40pm Tue 25 Nov 08
Gumshoe, Queensbury says...
2:41pm Tue 25 Nov 08
haitch wrote:Hope he has learnt a few things down under in how not to do things, team selection etc
Welcome back Macca. Place hasn't been the same without you! Hope none of Smithys techniques have rubbed off on you!!
Hope he is fired up for season ahead!
Ralphie, Queensbury says...
2:45pm Tue 25 Nov 08
Pie eaters perhaps or Macdonalds!
Mickster, Bradford says...
3:13pm Tue 25 Nov 08
Sorry, but its true.
The squad is weak and the coaching staff are poor and nothing at all is being done about it.
Bulls are on the up..?
2005 Champs.
2006 4th and SF elimination
2007 3 and 1st round elimination
2008 5th and 1st round elimination
That indicates that Bulls are on the slide.
shaun from richmond, richmond says...
4:09pm Tue 25 Nov 08
What do you have to do to get the sack these days!!!
Ralphie, Queensbury says...
4:14pm Tue 25 Nov 08
Iwas very optimistic at the begining of last season but for a number of reasons, including injuries, we did not peform.
The squad looks lighter in terms of numbers than last season and we seem particularly short in certain positions.
There is a lot of talent in the squad but players like Solomona, Newton, Deacon,Morrison and Burgess need to step up from last season either in terms of performances or injuries and Menzies will need an outstanding season.
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
4:27pm Tue 25 Nov 08
Ralphie wrote:Looking at the squad I must say Ralphie it's hard to disagree. Though I think some of the personnel are quite exciting prospects (especially Menzies and Scruton) I recognise a real problem at Halfback and 3/4 line which is going to be diffiult for Macca.
Hate to say it but I agree to some extent with Mickster. Iwas very optimistic at the begining of last season but for a number of reasons, including injuries, we did not peform. The squad looks lighter in terms of numbers than last season and we seem particularly short in certain positions. There is a lot of talent in the squad but players like Solomona, Newton, Deacon,Morrison and Burgess need to step up from last season either in terms of performances or injuries and Menzies will need an outstanding season.
But it will be interesting to see what plans he has in this regard?
defender24, skipton says...
4:30pm Tue 25 Nov 08
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
4:31pm Tue 25 Nov 08
cj wrote:Spot on yet again IMO cj me old flower. Fitness a big issue and I would certainly agree end of March would be soon enough.
hope the fitness is better this year than last, that was, in my opinion, the major difference between us and some of the other teams. still don't like the thought of watching winter rugby again, starting in feb is far too early.
micksey, Wibsey says...
5:16pm Tue 25 Nov 08
COME ON THE BULLS!!!!
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:46pm Tue 25 Nov 08
Personnaly, I feel the likes of Sherriffe and Worrincy are good young additions and yes, Young Crookes has had his season on loan and should be better for it. Tupou is fit again and his attitude is right.(plus we all know he can spot a good Kiwi side when he sees one!)
Meantime, we all know who the knockers are but they won't influence our love for the Bulls
COME ON YOU BULLS!!
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
5:55pm Tue 25 Nov 08
defender24 wrote:Although acquitted the most serious of his charges he still faces other charges which could see him in gaol for some time. Should he be cleared he'll be hot property in RL terms!
would the bulls be intrested in bringing greg bird in at halfback...........
defender24, skipton says...
11:17pm Tue 25 Nov 08
defender24, skipton says...
11:28pm Tue 25 Nov 08
haitch, Lincolnshire says...
11:46pm Tue 25 Nov 08
defender24 wrote:Agreed def' we could do with someone of that class at H/B. Can't see it happening this season though.
to put things right i ment go somewhere at halfback because like you say haitch thats were we struggle.
Ralphie, Queensbury says...
9:45am Wed 26 Nov 08
Its in the three quarters where I can see the problems with Sykes and Nero the only options at centre without using academy players. I don't know if Menzies has played centre but he can't have burning pace at his age.
Nero was not even seen as a centre option for last season when Hape and Evans were available.
Who will be on the wings for the first game - presumably Tadulala and Sheriffe - where does this leave Tupou and Halley since placing wingers on the bench severely limits options.
Gumshoe, Queensbury says...
10:41am Wed 26 Nov 08
I have a feeling Macca has something up his sleeve for later in season??
Security word: sign-long (Gulp!!)
Mickster, Bradford says...
12:24pm Wed 26 Nov 08
defender24 wrote:No, Macca doesn't have that kind of ambition. As proven by the three seasons of signing absolute tripe.
would the bulls be intrested in bringing greg bird in at halfback...........
Mickster, Bradford says...
12:44pm Wed 26 Nov 08
Gumshoe wrote:Like signing another crap player?
Sadly I think Deacs has become a little injury prone with his hamstring so we will def need cover through the season and I just hope the cover is not in the form of moving a player out of position again because we have nobody else. I have a feeling Macca has something up his sleeve for later in season?? Security word: sign-long (Gulp!!)
mdn, bradford says...
4:30pm Wed 26 Nov 08
Dickster, bradford says...
11:15pm Fri 28 Nov 08
Mickster wrote:You say you suport the Bulls Mickster but you come up with innane comments like this. Can you see Halifax town, or whatever name they are under now, signing rooney and Ronnaldo. Due to previous regimes the Bulls are struggling big time financially and these glory signings that you want will not happen for some time yet. We have kit men doing the ground staffs job and a number of people laid off.
Gumshoe wrote: Sadly I think Deacs has become a little injury prone with his hamstring so we will def need cover through the season and I just hope the cover is not in the form of moving a player out of position again because we have nobody else. I have a feeling Macca has something up his sleeve for later in season?? Security word: sign-long (Gulp!!)Like signing another crap player?
It's not hard so think about it. Then realise what foolish comments you make about the coach.
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Lee St Hilaire has been pleased with the response of the Bulls players during Steve McNamara's absence
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haitch, Lincolnshire says...
12:41pm Tue 25 Nov 08
Hope none of Smithys techniques have rubbed off on you!!