Sums up Macca's rule tbh, slow starts, poor defensively and exactly the same attacking options week after week. No dummy running, slow play of the balls, and playing one out rugby as if we still had a massive pack. Without Orford's capacity to play what's in front of him we lack ideas and imagination, L'Estrange tries his best to inject some enthusiasm, but playing with a centre and fullback as the two halves we're always going to struggle on last play options. I thought Sykes in particular was appalling, he just has no idea what to do late in the tackle count but with limited running off the ball, he also has few options. Reardon has largely been a waste of time, and dare I say it we really missed Michal Platt's tackling and enthusiasm. Halley, well he's fast but never breaks a tackle and is frequently driven backwards, he's also increasingly poor in terms of goal line defense.

What a performance would have been gutted to miss that, honest.

Taylor must be some kind of miracle worker if he can get a decent performance out of this bunch of useless morons.

I don't blame the players.

addy was pretty anonymous. Wardle went ok and was a bit unlucky to have a try dis-allowed. Certainly looks more promising than crookes from limited amount we've seen off him so far. Crossley was a bit of a disapointment. he's certainly got size for a prop but imo looked a little overweight and didnt really make any impression on match. Cant say I thought he offered any more than kopczak which probably explains why he hasnt been used before now.

Then you're deluded sir.

Gold pure comedy rearrange this little phrase.

How many aussie players are crusaders allowed its a joke?!....a mediocre aussie i s alot better than a mediocre english player (many of the bulls players)!

Who cares? It didn't stop the quins putting 50 past them last week.

14 I believe was the figure quoted at the start of the season

I disagree put a different coach in charge of these players and you will see different outcomes.

No. Not out of order. There's got to be some attempt to discuss the rugby beyond 'we are awful' ad nauseum. They'll be posters who do this and get away with it, modding this board is going to be too much work to do perfectly these next few days but when a poster's sole output is that, even when you might feel the Bulls' 'performance' deserves it, then those are the options for them. Eddie is that poster. If he can bring any specifics to his posts, then he'll be taking option 1 and is welcome to continue on here. Let's see what he does.

Clueless in attack and dreadful in defence.

Play like that next week and we'll be torn apart.

Halley needs dropping or shifting out to the wing.

I reckon you're right, what actually were our tactics today?? They can't have been good ones if we could hardly break down a defence which has been shipping in 50 weekly.



Put Postman Pat in charge with H from Steps as his assistant and they'd probably do better than McNamara.

Well thankfully we won't have to wait to much longer to see if you're right.
Quite an important few weeks coming up for the club, off the field just as much as on it.
Once the 30th June deadline passes and Orford is still here I will breathe a sigh of relief, and maybe some stability will return to the squad. Following that we should have an announcement about the new coach. A decent appointment could very well inspire the players to impress their future boss.
Conversely, appoint some clown like Lowes and it could have completely the opposite effect

I disagree. ME's posts might be depressingly repetitive (or might not) but ATM he seems to have been proved right. I find this far less nauseating than the ritual abuse of officials by the likes of Gledhill. Whenyou start dishing out public final warnings to his type I might have some sympathy for your POV.

I struggle to come to terms with how McNamara can take a group of professional sportsman and send them out for a game (1) lacking in confidence (2) lacking in ideas and (3) lacking in energy. Crusaders are no world beaters but their tactics & effort made our squad play & look pathetic. The sooner McNamara is history the better ~ he should go tonight and between now and his successors appointment the squad would be best left to sort it out amongst themselves than continue to work to his so called "game-plan".
I cannot believe the lack of emotion on his face as he watched that embarrasment of a performance ~ perhaps he was "day-dreaming" of yesterdays England result instead of doing something about the "nightmare" unfolding before his very eyes.

Poor performance from us today they were too many mistakes and our defence and attack were shocking also can somebody please tell me why we signed Reardon, Sheriffe and Worrincy they are a complete waste of time and money.

TT: you have a point re: Mick. Though it isn't his sole output.

I think stability in the team would help. We seem to have a different set of absences every week and playing 4 players with less than 30 appearances between them shows how thin our squad is.


I'd be hugely disappointed if the players could be inspired to better things by any future appointment. Any professional shouldn't need that motivation.

Fair point. His taste in music is entertaining, granted.

Wardle played well and IMO should have been allowed to play longer, if he was fit, when taken off. He supports well, is quick and put in some good defensive work.
Addy & Crossley struggled to impress but most youngsters would have done playing in that team display today.
Some of the senior players should hang their heads in shame

I actually thought Crossley did quite well, and came extremely close to getting a try.

Maybe this thread should be locked? It appears that only certain points of view are allowed so what is the point?

I would have Wardle over Reardon any day. I would have noone on the wing over Reardon to be fair though.