McNamara expecting intense derby

Correspondent

Bradford Bulls coach Steve McNamara is looking forward to an intense battle with Leeds Rhinos in this Sunday’s West Yorkshire derby at the Grattan Stadium.
 
The previous clash between the two sides at Headingley Carnegie Stadium resulted in a thrilling 20-20 draw in a game which McNamara knows could have gone either way.
 
Steve McNamara said: “I think our performance was good, it was probably a game we feel we should have won but a game we could have possibly lost as well.

“It’s what makes the Yorkshire derbies between Leeds and Bradford so exciting, the intensity and quality in general of the games involved. We got some momentum in the first half, we were pretty strong and looked like we were going to push on but momentum is a big thing in Rugby League and Leeds came strong in the last 20 minutes to post some points.
 
“It was one of those games that could have gone either way. I wasn’t quite sure whether I was relieved to get a point or disappointed that we missed out on two.”
 
The West Yorkshire derbies have always been among the highlights of the Engage Super League season and McNamara hopes to see a big crowd backing his side on Sunday.
 
McNamara added: “We’ve done reasonably well to get to where we are at this moment in time in the competition.  There’s been a lot of hard work invested by a lot of people to get there and it would be great to pick up another two points at home.  I know it’s Leeds and a local rivalry but for ourselves it is the same two points that were on stake last weekend against Wakefield and we need to make sure we maintain some good form and put some points on the board. 

“I think there will be a big crowd at Odsal, I think we’ve certainly given them some things to shout about this season. They’ve been good for us so far and we’ll need them in numbers on the weekend.
 
“We need to be good for 80 minutes, we need to play with some intensity all the way through. In the last few weeks, we have had some little dips in performance in certain stages throughout the game and if that happens against Leeds it certainly won’t be good enough for two points. We need to be good from the first whistle to the last.”