Noble relishing Odsal return

Wigan coach Brian Noble is bracing himself for the possibility of a hostile reception when he returns to Bradford on Saturday for the first time since his shock departure.

Noble played his first match for the West Yorkshire club at the age of 15 and coached them to five consecutive Grand Finals from 2001-05. But he quit the club amid a war of words last April to join Wigan and admits it will be an emotional occasion when he takes the Warriors back to Odsal.

"I probably didn't leave the way I wanted to leave but that was out of my hands," he said. "There are some good people and I appreciate what they did for me. I hope they reflect on the good things I did for the club. I'd be disappointed if I got heavily booed but it wouldn't surprise me."

He added: "I don't regret leaving Bradford. I've got some good friends there and most of my family are still season-ticket holders there. They will be the ones throwing the bread buns.

"I just hope I go into the right dug-out. I am looking forward to it. I'm excited and there's an element of nerves.

"When you spend 30 years in one place as man and boy, you are bound to have emotional ties to the place and I still have."