[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/07/18/RUGBYL_Super_Nightlead.htmlMcNamara believes we still have a great chance of making the playoffs[/url.



I think he's possibly the only person who does.

Would you rather him say we've no chance of getting into the play offs so we might as well roll over and die now, would you? and risk even more out of towner glory fans staying away??

Then the detractors would really have something to say!

Better off saying nothing and let the actions speak. No we've learnt this or that, positives from disasters. A couple of convincing wins especially at home is what we need. Up to now talk has been cheap from the club and action has been lacking. Cut the talk and put some pride into the performance and let's see some wins....

Heard it all before this year though haven't we..

If McNamara has dropped some of the under-performers then we have a better chance I guess. Players like Whitehead and Donaldson should at least bring a bit of fresh enthusiasm and perhaps it will rub off on a few more of them. I expect we will continue with a passenger at 7 however so we need BJ to have another good game.

I have no problem with them still trying for the playoffs. They should be. I have no problem with McNamara coming out and saying they will be putting all our efforts into making the playoffs. They should be.

To say we have a great chance though is nothing short of b0llocks. We don't have a great chance, we have an outside chance.

I know he's just trying to say what people want to hear, but I'd rather hear honesty than the same old crap every week.

My thoughts exactly. We have an okay chance if we put 100% effort and commitment into the cause.

EDITED FOR HONESTY

Bradford coach Steve McNamara has thrown in the towel on the eve of the Bulls' engage Super League clash with Brian Noble's Wigan.

The Bulls are certain to miss out on the play-offs for the first time after winning just six of their first 19 matches and McNamara insists there's more chance of hell freezing over than the Bulls making the cut.

"I certainly think with the personnel we have got, we've got no chance of making it," he said.

"We need to knock off the game this week and each game from there on in to see us through to our holidays.

"The side is crap. This side might be disappointed with its performances but we don't intend to put it right."

Wigan are one of three teams locked on 20 points but are on a roll after winning their last three games and go to Odsal looking to complete the double following a 44-10 win at the JJB Stadium in March.

Bradford, on the other hand, have lost their last four matches and McNamara is anything but confident they can kickstart their campaign against his predecessor's team.

"Obviously we have under performed in recent weeks and I doubt that will change on Sunday," he said.

"In all the recent games we have been utterly clueless in large parts and we have been able to continue like it.

"We have a $hite bunch of players out there who are ready to go on the pi$s once the match is over."

Noble, who steered the Bulls to five consecutive Grand Final appearances before crossing the Pennines, said whilst laughing uncontrollably: "This is a fixture I look forward to.

"It's an awful place to play rugby league but an easy place to go win at. I've watched their last three games and by God they're crap. I'm just so glad I'm not still there."

"They've got some good cheerleaders though and I was particularly impressed with what young Haley is doing round the back. She looks very sharp."

Well said Macca not let's hope the lads back themselves and go for it!!!

Go get 'em boys!!!!
[size=200
=redHooyaahh Come =orangeon yee Buuuuuulllllssssaaaaahhhh!!![/size

LOL

SACK Steve McNamara

BAN BSC

Instead of talking the talk, it's about time we saw them walk the walk. Unfortunaley the walk will be to far and the hills will be to steep.

Time to go Steve.

If this isn't final proof that he's off his rocker i don't know what is!!!

You're just upset that the T & A didn't report this.

I don't know what on earth Noble is on about by saying that we have 'good rudders'



'Rudderless' is one word - one of the limited number that I can repeat - that I've often used to describe us this season

Does someone in the hospital want to break it to Steve gently that...

"No, no we don't dear."

Maybe after tonight's medication.

McNamara's comment at last night's St Helens V Wakefield game was enlightening. Apparently if it had been played under RU's five points for a try rule then Saints wouldn't have needed a goal-kicker.

Steve is clearly one of the game's deep thinkers although a one point defeat rather than a two point defeat is still a defeat the last time I looked.

Perhaps the fact he struggles with basic arithmetic explains why we never play for 80 minutes? Perhaps he thinks if 55 minutes have gone, we only have 5 minutes left.

Hmmm. Well, I got to thinking why he would say this. And maybe we are all being too pessimistic. Maybe Steve's right.



Why?

Well, of course, if we continue to play as we have been, then we are too erratic to win enough games ourselves, regardless of oher results, and so it is a "given" that unless we can achieve a string of consistency and a high slice of Wins, then there is indeed no hope. But, having analysed it a bit, I am a little bit less gloomy.

If there are one or two errors in the detail I apologise in advance, I've done this post in a rush, but any minor errors won't alter the general reasoning and justification for a bit of optimism.

There are 3 factors:-

1. We have it in our hands to beat our main rivals for a top 8 spot. And we play a lot of them:

Genuine four pointers
=redBradford v Wigan
Celtic v Bradford
Bradford v Harlequins
Harlequins v Bradford
Huddersfield v Bradford
Bradford v Catalans
Bradford v Salford
Hull v Bradford

Next, while the teams above us have a bit of a lead, here are the games where they MUST drop points:
Games where our competitiors are bound to lose 2 points between them
=greenCatalans v Harlequins
Wakefield v Castleford
Warrington v Salford
Salford v Castleford
Catalans v Hull
Harlequins v Salford
Wigan v Warrington
Castleford v Wigan
Hull v Harlequins
Warrington v Wakefield
Catalans v Wakefield
Harlequins v Castleford
Wigan v Hull
Warrington v Harlequins
Catalans v Salford

Then again, the remaining games include many where teams either out of reach, or Celtic, are playing teams in our particulart mix, and could take points off our competitors:
Games where others can do us a favour by possibly taking points off our competitors
=blueHuddersfield v Warrington
Harlequins v St Helens
Huddersfield v Catalans
Hull KR v Hull
Castleford v Hull KR
Catalans v Celtic
Hull v Huddersfield
Leeds v Warrington
Salford v Wakefield
Leeds v Castleford
Wakefield v Celtic
Salford v Hull KR
St Helens v Huddersfield
Celtic v Huddersfield
Hull KR v Warrington
Castleford v Celtic
Huddersfield v Wigan
Salford v Leeds
St Helens v Catalans
Wakefield v Hull KR

Looking at it like that, while no doubt we have a stiff task, I now reckon that our prospects aren't half as gloomy as I thought - with the obvious caveat that if WE don't put a very good run together, the other two parts make no difference.

Maybe McNamara is smarter than we all gave him credit for? Certainly, looking at that, he hasn't lost the plot. If we DO put a very good run together, then we WILL make the playoffs.

And if we don't, then it is entirely our fault.

It's still in our own hands, people. Believe!

Thanks for that, makes it look a bit brighter. I really hope that we can but it does seem unlikely - We haven't had a run of more than 3 consecutive wins for a few years now.

Although your point may be sound, it's the fact that it is in our hands that makes me less than optimistic. For the team that I have seen this year to put together an excellent run of results, I'm afraid it would take something close to a miracle.

If we play like we did against Wakey, Saints, Wire and Leeds then we certainly have a good chance. If we play like we did against Salford, Celtic, Cas and Wigan then no.

Get real. Very good run or not playoffs are now out of the question.

Real?

IF we had something that counted as a "very good run", then we would be certainties to make the playoffs. Do the maths!