I am quoting in full the text of the excellent Conor Murphy's latest piece in the T&A. It quite surprised me, not least because it includes a few of the inconvenient truths that too many people seem happy to ignore, or have derided. But what intrigues me is how much of this is his opinion and how much of it is rather stronger than that, and if so what is the source? Conor is the new kid on the block (albeit the best one we have had for ages) but this piece reads like it was written by someone who has been around a lot longer.

Note the suggestion that we are in the bottom five "in terms of outlay".

He's clearly nailed his own colours to the mast, anyway. The tone is that the club backed Macca in the bad times, and Macca now looks likely to walk out on the club. And the club should not let him go without a fight, and Macca should stick around to see it through.

I suspect some fans will agree with Conor, but more than a few will beg to differ.

Interesting piece indeed, IMO.

Well done Mr Murphy, great article.


You can't fault McNamara's effort over the past 4 years. He's probably got one of the hardest coaching jobs in SL : Less money, but still the expectations. He deserves another contract.

From another point of view though, it is surely time for McNamara to repay the faith shown in him by Hood and co and sign up on a new contract (if there's one on offer). The board has shown alot more patience and faith than the majority of the fans at times (me included)

Very interesting. Lots there that has been suggested or rumoured elsewhere.

Its a very curious piece.

One interpretation is that Macca does not expect a new contract offer, would like one and is upset than one appears not to be forthcoming. And has said all this to Conor, with background. And Conor, who clearly supports Macca's cause, is making the case for Macca to the fans. One or two things Macca was reported as saying in an earlier report add some credibility to that interpretation IMO.

Another interpretation is that Macca has decided he wants away, and Conor believes both that that would be not the best thing for Macca to do and that the Board should be making strenuous efforts to keep him. Maybe in that scenario someone at the club desperate to see Macca retained has been making a strong case which Conor is relaying.

There will be other interpretations, of course.

I'm very very intrigued. I'm tempted by the first interpretation right now, to be honest.

Even if many people chose to dispute or deride.

With regards to the 2nd one Adey, I wouldn't understand that. We don't see the whole picture, but the board seems to have had faith in McNamara as the man to take us back to the top. When we are just starting to see the results of his hard labour, why would they think we need a different coach.


Something isn't adding up atm, but i'm sure it will come out in the next few weeks. 9Unless its a simple case of the RFL offering him ££££, but i can't see it)

Indeed. What can we do though? I for one would not like to see McNamara leave yet, but if the board want him out, there's not much we can do.




Am I the only one who thinks the Caisley & Noble returns (which I rubbished earlier) could have something about them? Didn't Caisley once call Noble the greatest coah in the history of RL? Surely he'd want that man back if he was the chair once again.

I wouldnt shed a tear if Macca was to leave. I would if we appointed a coach that's worse than Macca. I'd jump for joy if Nobby returned.

The last bit is what makes me think it's happening. Certainly ties in with Hoods comments about sharing both roles until the end of the season. The more I read, the more I think he's going.












The more I think we'll be a McDermott or Lowes coached side this time next year

You'd be jumping up and down for different reasons when Noble jacked it in or just plain failed because he did not have the funds to buy a team of seasoned professionals or support staff, and had to spend much of his time instead nurturing young talent.

I'm pretty sure my feelings about him going will depend on who arrives to replace him...

I will still be disappointed if I hear we didn't offer him another contract, as I believe his work (off the field) deserves a huge amount of credit.

If we attract a top-class coach (who still continues our great youth development) then I won't be as disappointed. If we appoint Lowes, Mcdermott, Jowitt or Calland I will want to cry.

Where is that quote from?

But (may be reading too much into it) - note the word "reassure" as opposed to "assure".

That implies earlier discussions on this subject.

I knew somebody would ask............



The sun, so maybe not too much of the old truth in there.

Why would he fail, why would he jack?
He didn't fail or jack last time and there's nobody in SL that has achieved what Noble has.

As for buying a team of seasoned pros isnt that what Macca has done from 1 to 17?

Bloody Parker then.

Does read like its a total done deal, doesn't it?

I was PMd by someone usually in the know a week or two ago indicating he was defo going.

I suspect the club will be in for an Aussie if at all possible.

He was failing and last time I looked he jacked it for the monies of Wigan.

When Noble achieves success on an extremely tight budget, with scope for few overseas players and success built on home-grown youngsters coming through, then I will agree with you. He hasn't done so yet in his career. His skill set is extensive, but would not work for a club now in Bulls' position IMO.

Well last time I looked we were Super League champions at the time he was forced out, that doesn't look like failing to me.

Tight budget or not, the man achieved success and was good at getting the best out of squads year upon year. And don't try and fob me off with the no home grown youngsters lark that so many are brainwashed into believing either because you know full well that Nobbys squads were heavily laden up with homegrown youngsters just as much as Steve Maccas are.

We've had this discussion many times Michael, and its by no means certain who has been brainwashed.

Nobby's squads here were full of expensive antipodeans - we were forever getting slated for that. And other than the excellent Langley where are the long-term home-grown products?

You can ignore the financial realities all you want, but financial realities are totally central to the Bulls' situation. Simple fact - provable fact - is that Bulls were spending far more than their means to keep the squad they did. The audited accounts don't lie. What happened when Nobby realised that the funding would have to be cut significantly if the club was to survive? The players knew.

Nobby brought us massive success. That is something no-one should ever forget or seek to decry IMO. Equally, that success was built on a set of circumstances which no longer apply. IMO he will do well this year with Crusaders, and they will likely beat us in at least one of the games. He's got a load of antipodeans and seasoned professionals to play with. At Wigan, people were playing hell with him for having a team of antipodeans. But, in the end, the Wigan club decided someone else could do better - and they have been proved right.

Adey we're never going to agree. I'm a Nobby fan, I don't rate Macca. You rate Macca and not Nobby. Lets leave it at that.

Hey Michael...I was just about to post pretty well the same! Although I'd add that I rate Nobby for what he did for us at the time in the situation then prevailing, and whilst I rate Macca very highly for what he has managed to do for the club within the resources available, I will happily concede that in pure coaching terms there may be more effective (if not necessarily affordable) options available

One of these days you and I are going to have to have a beer. Might be an interesting chat!

Cool mate. That'd be good.

It would. Soon.

See they are still as touchy as ever on the Pussycats forum? You very diplomatically pointed out another of their inconvenient truths, and lo and behold raw nerve touched and disproportionate reaction, eh? They are good at giving but pretty cräp at taking.

I recall with some clarity that Noble was not pushed. He had a contract that he could have enforced if he wished. His wish was to move to another club under a better contract and the Bulls received a transfer fee for releasing him from their contract.

Connor has been an excellent commentator on the Bull's games and his regular interviews with players have kept the club's press at a high level. He has never been a sensationalist or unreasonable speculative.
I agree with Adey that the T&A article is thought provoking on several levels.
It does read overall as a McNamara CV including insights to information that might have been provided by sources close to Steve. Details of the salary cap expenditure, Macca's "clear and long term plan", and the "reality is murkier" elements of his tenure.
Its much like the sort of thing an agent would put out prior to contract talks, and maybe this is what its all about. Macca's 4 year contract (almost certainly at pretty low money from his appointment) is coming to an end and it would not be surprising if he is looking for a significant increase over the term of the next contract.
Whether he would be worth it is for conjecture by the fans and decision by the board.
Connor alluding to the Bulls not trying hard enough to keep him presuposes that they want to keep him.
Have the rumours of him going to Oz been deliberately fabricated, and is the England job just another lever?

Whatever, contract talks are clearly ongoing and this is significant as it would sugest that Macca wants to stay and the club want him to stay. Perhaps only their valuations differ.

Yah, HKR. I usually go in Cue Gardens before or can get one in the ground whatever.

Oh yeah I know, they are a right set of twonks. 'You'll feel the force of the moderation process and all that'. They are a set of idiots and like you say they can give it out but can't take it. Huddersfield next.