Bulls legend Jimmy Lowes has backed Steve McNamara to lead them back to the top.

Lowes, one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, won every honour in the game with Bradford and foresees similar success in the future.

Now assistant coach for this evening’s opponents Warrington, the former Great Britain hooker ranks ex-Odsal team-mate McNamara among the best young coaches in Super League.

He also sympathises with the Bulls chief’s recent struggles after his own spell in the Wolves hot-seat ended in disaster.

Lowes was demoted to make way for new boss Tony Smith almost a year ago, following a run of eight straight defeats, but is confident McNamara can overcome a difficult 2009 to win over the fans.

“I think Steve has built a team that he is happy and settled with and able to turn the club around with,” said Lowes.

“He is a fantastic coach. I’ve worked with him and long-term I think he’ll be the man there and put them back on form. But hopefully that will start a week on Friday and no sooner!

“It’s tough (when things don’t go well). To say that it doesn’t affect you is not true. It does get to you and I’m quite stony-faced about things usually.

“When I was playing I didn’t care what people said to me, I’d just get on and do it. But this is different because you cannot get out on the field and do it yourself.

“It did hurt a little and that’s what was happening with Macca. He’s an honest, genuine bloke and a very good coach and in the long-term he will rise to the top.

“It would have been hurting him and it will affect his moods at home. I went through that and he was there for me at that time and was a shoulder for me. I’ll do the same for him, as will Tony.”

For Lowes, this evening’s game will certainly not be about proving a point. The 40-year-old still holds the Bulls close to his heart and relishes any meeting with his former club.

He said: “It all depends on how you leave a club. You want to win, whoever you play, but it means more if you left somewhere with bitter feelings.

“I had a great eight years at Bradford and I have a good relationship with the people at the club and still go back there.

“I’m friends with Steve Mac so I have no problems with the club at all. I just want to win, whoever I play. But I also want to see Bradford do well and finish second only to ourselves in the league.

“If you leave a club with a bitter taste in your mouth, then that is when you want to get revenge and show them ‘this is what I’m all about’. But that is not how I feel about Bradford at all.”

Warrington host Bradford looking to claim their fifth win from six games this season, their only defeat coming against league leaders Wigan.

And having watched the Bulls defeat the Warriors in thrilling fashion last week, Lowes knows stopping scrum half Matt Orford will be key to his side’s chances of success.

He said: “You cannot lay-off great players like him. He obviously started badly and was not in the best of form so Wigan slipped off him a bit and gave him too much space. You cannot do that with players like him.

“Look at Wayne Rooney at Manchester United. He can be quiet all game but give him one minute and he can turn the game on its head.

“You cannot switch off good players and that is what we will have to do to handle him. We’ve got to be on him for 80 minutes and try and control him as best we can.”