[Bulliac]

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 11:10 am  

daveyz999 wrote:

From what I remember, the players had also lost confidence in his ability, many experienced pro's could not understand his (constant) selection choices.

He was stood down (mutual consent of course ) with a number of games left in the season. LSH took charge of these, until the board announced the capture of Potter.

In his early days, I thought he would do okay at the Bulls, but his transfer dealings were terrible. Towards the end of his reign, I was definitely looking forward to his departure.

I don't have the ear of any players to be honest Davy, so I don't have a clue whether you actually "know" he'd 'lost the dressing room' or it's just something you heard in the pub, to be honest, but it's certainly not anything I've heard articulated anywhere, by any player, at any time.

There were some comparatively poor players brought in that is true, but it should be remembered that, after CC left with the money having being spent and the club in full austerity mode [Nobby ostensibly left to save money, top name players leaving for transfer fees or just to lose them from the payroll, chief exec left for same reason, juniors put onto part-time and virtually closed down, etc etc], and Hoods tenure was spent almost entirely fighting financial demons from the past and whilst I dare say McNamara would have loved to bring in some 'stars' [I'm sure he would have loved NOT to lose the 'stars' we already had] but he got what he could with the funds available and also revived the junior set up.

It clearly wasn't any 'golden era', and that is a fact, but people are buffeted by things going on around them and just do their best and sometimes they are just overwhelmed by all the negatives, and that was the situation for Macca, imo. I very much doubt, in those circumstances, it would have been any different under another coach.

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 11:37 am  

hindle xiii wrote:

]But then again I don't know what the Bulls can or can't afford, if we don't have the funds then we'll die by the sword

Not unless someone lends us one!

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 12:27 pm  

Bulliac wrote:

There were some comparatively poor players brought in that is true, but it should be remembered that, after CC left with the money having being spent and the club in full austerity mode [Nobby ostensibly left to save money, top name players leaving for transfer fees or just to lose them from the payroll, chief exec left for same reason, juniors put onto part-time and virtually closed down, etc etc], and Hoods tenure was spent almost entirely fighting financial demons from the past and whilst I dare say McNamara would have loved to bring in some 'stars' [I'm sure he would have loved NOT to lose the 'stars' we already had] but he got what he could with the funds available and also revived the junior set up.

In his final season, he did go for the 'almighty' star which backfired. Orford was reportedly on about £300,000 per season.

I also think Mcnamara had quite a bit of cash to spend compared to the current manager. In his last season, we were paying for Glen Hall, Orford, L'estrange, Scruton, Kearney, Lynch, Langley and Menzies. If the rumours were true, Platt and Sykes were also on very decent wages.

I'd imagine the list above of 10 players above would probably equate to more than what we are currently spending on a squad of 25(ish).

Looking back at the 2010 team, we actually had some really decent players, and we still failed to make the top 8.

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 1:56 pm  

daveyz999 wrote:

In his final season, he did go for the 'almighty' star which backfired. Orford was reportedly on about £300,000 per season.

Don't think it was so much. The Aussie press consistently claimed a deal worth $1.5m over 3 seasons, the exchange rate at the time was roughly $2 so nearer £250k but the "worth" will no doubt have included a signing on dollop so the annual pay would have been proportionately less. Whatever, a helluva lot of money but had all things been and stayed equal, probably worth it for the NRL's premiership winning halfback and Dally M holder.

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 2:28 pm  

Orford was outstanding during his short stay. He almost single-handed turned around the Bulls. What followed was a devastating blow.

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:22 pm  

Remembering Orford, what would a top class play maker be worth to us right now. If a player came available for 6 months would we pay to get him like London did last year with the state of origin half back. We probably can't afford a big short term signing but also can't afford not to make some signings / loans. Catch 22 I am afraid.

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:34 pm  

Even if a top class play maker was available, and we could afford him - doesn't guarantee he would slot into the rest of the team. If we had the cash to splash you would want someone who could help us win sufficient games to get above 10 points to give us even an outside chance. I think we should finish above London, the question is can we catch Wakey?

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 5:07 pm  

Northernrelic wrote:

Even if a top class play maker was available, and we could afford him - doesn't guarantee he would slot into the rest of the team. If we had the cash to splash you would want someone who could help us win sufficient games to get above 10 points to give us even an outside chance. I think we should finish above London, the question is can we catch Wakey?

Even if he didn't slot in straight away would e do any worse than Luke Gale?

Re: Relegation.. : Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:13 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

Even if he didn't slot in straight away would e do any worse than Luke Gale?

Shhh you can't say a bad word about him.

[Bulliac]

Re: Relegation.. : Thu Apr 17, 2014 8:40 am  

I'd forgotten about Awful, to be honest. I think as TT said, he actually played quite well whilst he was here [in the top 4 IIRC, when he went home]and the club was more than fair in allowing him to go home to recuperate.

Oh, what might have been - I guess that was a decision they would like to have re-visited. Ultimately it killed not only that season but also the next as we couldn't recruit with him hanging on to his contract whilst playing around trying to get an Aussie deal.