FINDING THEIR FEET ON TRICKY TERRAIN
There will be little pressure on MacDonald and Coventry apart from the pressure they put on themselves given it is their first year.
Few will be expecting miracles, even the new Blues board who took it upon themselves to effectively demote Umaga to an assistant’s role and install MacDonald as head coach.
The Blues last made the playoffs in 2011 and have become synonymous with failure.
It will take time to break free from that perception. Umaga may be under the most pressure.
He has signed a one-year deal as assistant and, while he should gel with MacDonald, with whom he has worked well before, he could be under the most scrutiny given this is his fourth year at the franchise.