Hammering by Saints could be ideal for Bulls

They host Castleford tomorrow still recoiling from the horrors of a 38-6 humiliation by St Helens and striving to avoid losing their opening three Super League games for the first time.

It is not the start McNamara had envisaged from his new-look squad and he was seething by the awful manner in which they erred against Saints.

But he counters the magnitude of the painful defeat can pay long-term dividends for his squad who, along with the coach, were jeered from the Odsal pitch.

"If we had come back and lost the game say 28-16, it might not have been the best thing for us," said McNamara.

"Sometimes what happened last week is what a side needs – I firmly believe that. It could be part of the process for this team to be as good as they can be.

"In the long run, when we sit back and analyse it over the length of the season, as hard as it is, as much as it hurt, it could possibly be the thing that was needed at this stage even if it might not feel like it now."

McNamara admitted there had been harsh words delivered to his players after they watched the DVD re-run.

"What happens between myself and the players behind closed doors stays there," he said. "But, suffice to say, there was a fair bit of embarrassment and huge disappointment.

"Some of the pictures were ugly for us and there's been a lot of soul-searching but the problems are easily fixable.

"We aim to do that against Castleford. Without a doubt, this is a very good side. It just never showed that last week."

Last year, Bradford drew their first match and lost the next three, a damaging run from which McNamara admitted they never fully recovered, effectively costing them a place in the play-offs.

He will be wary of the same slumbering start derailing their 2010 campaign not only on the pitch but off it as well.

A promising crowd of more than 10,000 attended the Saints debacle but many had long since departed before Matt Orford crossed for the hosts' first points in the final minute.

Like many clubs, Bradford can ill-afford dwindling attendances and they immediately need to produce a positive display against Castleford.

McNamara admitted: "I understand the fans' frustration but I won't let any negativity creep in whatsoever.

"This team will come together. It was disappointing for everyone, not just the supporters, and I'm glad we've got a quick turnaround.

"The players have a tremendous amount of pride and it's been hurt. They will respond."

Bradford have faced a difficult start against last season's runners-up and the side that came third, Huddersfield. But Hull FC – another club tipped to respond after failing to make the play-offs – encountered the same opponents and delivered four points.

Castleford performed a Super League double over Bradford last season and opened this one with a shock triumph at champions Leeds before losing against Warrington.

McNamara may seek some comfort from the fact Bradford have only lost their first two matches once previously. That was in 2005, in Brian Noble's final full season in charge, when they recovered to finish third and go on to win the Grand Final. The Odsal coach has stuck with the same 19-man squad for the visit of Castleford, although he has little room to manoeuvre even if he did opt for wholesale changes.

"We haven't got four or five senior blokes waiting in the wings," he said, the price paid for his budget being set significantly short of the full salary cap.

Castleford's Ryan Clayton has recovered from an arm injury and is set for his first outing of the season, replacing Dean Widders, who underwent knee surgery yesterday.