Cummins put in charge of Bulls rebuilding job

He was yesterday unveiled as Bradford’s new head coach on a three-year deal after a recommendation from ex-boss Mick Potter.

Along with the Australian, assistant Cummins had worked unpaid after being made redundant by the administrator amid the Bulls’ monetary problems in early July.

He helped keep the Bulls’ squad performing but nearly ended up on a building site to help ends meet as he recalled: “Having come straight from school as a full-time rugby league player and then a coach, there weren’t too many avenues open.

“We made the decision pretty early to make that commitment to the players but we initially thought it’d be a couple of weeks, maybe a month where we could take that mortgage hit.

“I’ve a family and three kids and we had to think ‘do we dip into what savings we have?’

“I’ve some friends who gave me a chance, if needed, to do the odd day (labouring). I wasn’t far off.”

However, with new owner Omar Khan having rescued the Bulls, and Potter opting against staying, Cummins’s promotion sees him continue his chosen career path.

At just 35, he will be the youngest head coach in Super League next season but the ex-Leeds Rhinos winger has more experience than people sometimes recognise given the premature ending to his illustrious player career.

Cummins, who made 356 appearances for his only club Leeds between 1993 and 2005, retired on his 29th birthday in order to take up a glorious opportunity.

He joined the Headingley coaching staff where he worked initially under Tony Smith and, later, Brian McClennan, winning Super League titles with both, before moving to Bradford in 2010.

He insisted he is ready for the top role now, though, and added: “To be honest, I’ve been ready for a couple of years.

“I had to leave Leeds to further my education. It’s been great working with Mick but I’ve always known I’m ready to have my team. I needed to get my own team.”

Cummins will sit down and strive to sort his squad with 17 of the club’s 33-strong playing staff off contract.

He expects to work under a tight budget as it is understood the Bulls have agreed to take only half of their Sky television money over the next two years in return for keeping their Super League place.

Tom Burgess, Olivier Elima, Kyle Briggs, Ben Jeffries and Ian Sibbit have already moved on but the new coach hopes many of the remaining players will re-sign.

The special bond developed over the course of this taxing season, when spirited Bradford battled through huge adversity to win more than half their Super League games, should help his chances.

They would have secured a play-off spot for the first time in four years if not for a six-point deduction and Cummins reckons it bodes well for the future.

“What they did achieve was remarkable,” he continued.

“It was uncharted waters that I’d never want anyone in rugby league to go through again.

“It wasn’t nice but they proved to themselves they could do it.

“Maybe they didn’t think they could the year before. Even with all the injuries we had we got 29 points.

“Hopefully those players will come out of this knowing how hard they worked for each other and that’s to become the norm now if we’re going to move forward as a team.

“The more characters we’ve got from this year, who have really worked hard for the cause rather than just tip a toe in, will help us go better next season.”

Cummins also believes the squad has reconnected with their supporters following the turmoil of going through administration.

“I came here (from Leeds) and almost got the feeling the hardcore fans, who’d seen all the glory days, resented the players a little as they weren’t Super League-winning material,” he explained.

“And the players probably resented the fans too either for booing them or leaving early.

“But as soon as that announcement got made (the need for £1m at Easter) and they saw the players making buns and washing cars, it brought everyone back together.

“One of the reasons we did what we did was we improved as a team but it was also because everyone was in it together.

“Those fans never stopped cheering and got behind those young men. It showed just what needs to happen and be the norm.

“It really opened my eyes this year just how much people are willing to do at the thought of losing their club.”

Cummins, who hopes to have his backroom staff in place by the end of the week, envisages building his squad around the likes of Bradford-born youngsters like England Academy captain John Bateman and England Knights’ star Elliott Whitehead.

“The potential of them is huge,” he said. “Sometimes I look at them and they don’t realise how good they could be. That’s what excites me.

“If I can improve these players and they can become full internationals that’s my ultimate goal.

“There’s other kids you haven’t heard about yet but will do. I see a team full of homegrown talent.

“We are the bottom of the hill and we need to work really hard but I know it can be done.”

Meanwhile, the Rugby Football League are investigating Craig Kopczak’s actions, the Bulls prop having walked away from his contract at Odsal.

Leeds could be without Kylie Leuluai for Friday’s preliminary semi-final in Perpignan after he was charged by the match review panel with punching late on in their win over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

FRANCIS CUMMINS FACT FILE...

Francis Cummins is the youngest player to appear in a Challenge Cup final at Wembley. 
He was aged just 17 years and 200 days when Leeds lost to Wigan in 1994.

Born in Dewsbury, he went on to score 188 tries in 356 appearances for Leeds, his only club.

Cummins featured in the inaugural Super League Grand Final when Rhinos lost against Wigan in 1998.

He scored a hat-trick on his England debut against France in 1995 before later representing Ireland and Great Britain.