WARRINGTON assistant coach James Lowes has backed his former Bradford team-mate Steve McNamara to deliver long-term success to the Bulls.

Bradford boss McNamara has come under pressure after a poor start to the season, although he enjoyed a huge fillip last week as his side beatLeeds.

His situation is one Lowes recognises well having begun the year as Wolves head coach before seeing Tony Smith installed above him last month due to a poor run of results.

“I know what he is going through,” said Lowes, whose disappointment with Warrington over his demotion has been evident.

“I went through it at the start of the year.

“The club decided to make a change after three games with me but it is good the board there are staying loyal to Steve.

“It’s nice to see them sticking to their guns and being loyal because at the moment in British sport that doesn’t seem to be the way to go.

“Steve is a fantastic bloke and a good friend. He is also a very good coach.”

Warrington and Bradford both find themselves in the lower reaches of the table as they prepare to meet at the Grattan Stadium tonight (kick-off 8pm).

The Wolves are 13th with only four points after losing both their Easter fixtures to Salford and Castleford.

Bradford are only a place and a point better off after their morale-boosting win over Leeds was undermined by an Easter Monday loss to Wakefield.

Both clubs have much higher expectations and Lowes concedes that might be evident in the atmosphere at Odsal.

He added: “Both teams have just not quite been there and it is going to be quite a tense occasion I think, even so early in the season.”