BRADFORD BULLS coach Steve McNamara read the riot act to his players following their six-try rout by St Helens but he believes the humiliating experience could be the making of his new-look team.
The 2005 champions take on Castleford at Odsal on Friday still reeling from their 38-6 mauling by Saints in front of their own fans and desperately hoping to avoid losing their opening three matches of a Super League season for the first time. McNamara, who was booed by fans after Sunday’s home game, admits he used harsh words to his players in the aftermath of the defeat, but says the scale of the defeat could work to their advantage.
“If we had come back and lost the game say 28-16, it might not have been the best thing for us,” he said.
“Sometimes what happened last week is what a side needs – I firmly believe that. It could be part of the process for this team to be as good as they can be.
“It’s a tough world out there and sometimes something like that is exactly what is needed. This group is still learning about each other because there are so many new people.
“In the long run, when we sit back and analyse it over the length of the season, as hard as it is, as much as it hurt and embarrassed as we were, it could possibly be the thing that was needed at this stage.”
If McNamara needs any encouragement from his side’s disappointing start, he can look back to 2005 when, in predecessor Brian Noble’s last full season in charge, the Bulls recovered from losing their first two matches to finish third and went on to win the Grand Final.
McNamara yesterday named the same 19-man squad and admits he does not have the resources to make sweeping changes.
“We haven’t got the luxury of four or five senior blokes waiting in the wings,” he said. “We’ve got two injured and, after that, we’ve got some young boys.
“Quite often after a result like that and a performance like that players need to be given the opportunity to put it right. I can understand the fans’ frustration.
“Everybody is disappointed when you under-perform.”
