McNamara - It was a pantomime

Hudson facing another fine

Last updated: 6th July 2008

steve mcnamara bradford

McNamara: dumb as we've ever played

I don't want to make excuses but what happened out there wasn't right.

Steve McNamara
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Bradford coach Steve McNamara was far from happy after watching his side lose 25-24 to Huddersfield.

Giants captain Chris Thorman landed the decisive drop goal a minute from the end, but the drama continued after the final hooter with Bradford centre Paul Sykes sent off for dissent.

Referee Steve Ganson had called for a time-out at a scrum with just seconds remaining but blew his whistle immediately on hearing the hooter, denying the Bulls a chance to snatch a further score.

Ganson had earlier sent four players - two from each side - to the sin bin and placed three other incidents on report.

"I thought it was a pantomime out there," said McNamara. "We are here talking about officials' performances and the effect they have on results."

Sykes will appear before the Rugby Football League's disciplinary panel on Tuesday following his dismissal and Bulls hooker Terry Newton could join him after twice being put on report.

McNamara said of Sykes: "I won't condone ill-discipline but frustration clearly got the better of him.

"Obviously, he was aware the clock had been stopped and we would have had another play. We could have gone for a drop-goal from the base of the scrum.

Not right

"I don't want to make excuses but what happened out there wasn't right."

Of the match itself, McNamara added: "We were as dumb as we've ever played. We should have put the game to bed in the first half.

"Not to get the two points is a bitter blow but we will bounce back."

Huddersfield earned the praise of acting boss Paul Anderson.

"We played for 80 minutes, dug in and got our rewards at the end," he said.

"We played for 17 minutes with 11 men and only conceded one try in that time, so you've got to give credit to the boys. I thought we defended really well."

Anderson revealed hooker Ryan Hudson is facing a heavy fine for his sin-binning following a clampdown on ill-discipline. The former Wakefield and Castleford player was fined for showing dissent in last week's 46-16 defeat at St Helens.

"I was very disappointed with the sin-binning and disciplinary action will be taken this week," said Anderson. "It's unfortunate it's the same individual, but he will learn."