Strength in depth key for Potter to turn around Bradford Bulls' fortunes

Bradford Bulls have fallen behind in the Super League pecking order to many of their rivals but, as Dave Craven hears, their new coach is intent on making the club great again.

THE numbers game was an underlying issue behind Bradford Bulls' demise last season.

They simply did not have enough – both in terms of players and, consequently, points.

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It meant they failed to reach the play-offs for a second successive season but incoming head coach Mick Potter has immediately got to the root of the problem.

Such is the length of their new arrivals list for 2011, the quietly-spoken Australian opts against going through it all in fear of actually missing anyone out, but here it is: Ian Sibbitt, Patrick Ah Khan Marc Herbert, Chev Walker, Gareth Raynor, Shaun Ainscough, Olivier Elima, Bryn Hargreaves, Matt Diskin and Shad Royston.

Something had to be done at Odsal and Potter has been charged with the task of revitalising their fortunes after the most callow period in recent history.

The most important aspect for him was sorting that playing rosta and strengthening the group he inherited from Steve McNamara.

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"We've been fortunate that for this season we've been able to recruit a bit more depth to add to the squad," he said, as he nears the end of his first full week in the hotseat at Bradford.

"They've lacked that over the last few years for one reason or another but fortunately for me we're on the up as far as recruitment is concerned with quite a few new players."

Ten new recruits see Bradford busier than most of their Super League rivals but operating with one of the smallest squads and over-relying too much on their promising youngsters when injuries struck proved costly last year.

Potter, who arrives having led St Helens to the last two Grand Finals, is well aware of the talent that those Academy products such as James Donaldson, Elliott Whitehead and Danny Addy possess but he wants to be able to integrate them in a less aggressive fashion under his command and allow them to flourish more organically.

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"You can't throw in seven or eight kids all at once and expect them all to perform and it's just not possible for the team to go as well," he added, Bradford enduring a miserable record-breaking 12 game losing streak earlier this year.

"Everyone would like Bradford to win all the games but it's just not possible. Some of the kids physically just aren't ready to play. There will be some who will be better for this season and hopefully they'll be better for the team but they'll have to fight for their places as will the other guys.

"We've definitely gone a step forward, got stength in numbers and it's a good position for the club to be in."

With established stars like Andy Lynch, Nick Scruton and Jamie Langley, Potter has the makings of a powerful pack which will only be strengthened by the arrival of France captain Elima - who he coached while in his successful reign at Catalans – and St Helens prop Hargreaves.

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But it is the half-back area which caused Bradford most contention this year when marquee signing Matt Orford suffered a major shoulder injury in May and was never properly replaced, the Bulls proving rudderless for the remainder of the campaign during his absence.

The Australian is currently negotiating an early return to the NRL forcing the West Yorkshire club into signing a new scrum-half in the shape of relative unknown Herbert from Canberra Raiders.

He arrived yesterday and how the 23-year-old adapts to English football could prove crucial to the Bulls' fortunes.

Potter said: "He's a well-tuned half-back who's been coached very well by David Furner and – before that – Matty Elliott at Canberra.

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"He knows how to play with systems, how to play off the cuff, is a good kicker of the ball and quite a competent defender who can get the team around the park.

"At the particular time of having to make a decision there wasn't an Andrew Johns around - there wasn't too many choices - but Mark wanted to prove himself and if he can have an injury-free season he'll help us move forward.

"The NRL didn't see the best of him through injury this season but he played about 16 games in 2009 and he wants this opportunity."

Bradford featured in five successive Grand Finals leading into their last title success in 2005 but have clearly fallen behind the likes of Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Warrington and new champions Wigan since while ambitious Huddersfield Giants have also stolen a march on them.

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However, sport is cyclical and Potter, who was an assistant at Odsal in 1996-98 under Elliott when the Bulls were laying the foundations of that successful run, believes they can challenge again.

The important aspect is not to expect too much too soon; Potter, an unassuming but highly-respected coach, feels they can resurrect but shows the size of the task ahead when asked for his target.

"I think a minimum achievement would be to secure a place in the eight - then it becomes another competition (play-offs)," he said.

"Making the eight would be a good achievement for us this season,

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"You can't go from nought to 100, or a low point to a Premiership contender, within one foul swoop; I don't think the club's in that sort of position financially.

"It's a re-building programme. We're in that stage and we might be able to go another step the year after but we've brought some good quality players in who can do a job."

The club has already made progress off the field as well by securing 10,000 season ticket pledges on the back of a bold initiative aimed at bringing fans back to Odsal.

Increasing the support base will be vital not only for their future financial plans but also to generate some much-needed atmosphere at a ground that has lost lots of its appeal since the glory days of Bullmania.

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But Potter's main aim is getting his team productive again on the field. Now he feels he has the players to do that.

Popularity of football harms league's hopes

BRADFORD BULLS coach Mick Potter believes England chances of succeeding at international level are intrinsically damaged because of the nation's love of football.

After another dismal tournament down under, when England's inadequacies were again clearly highlighted by both Australia and New Zealand in the Four Nations, more questions have been asked about the future of the international team which seems to be dangerously falling behind their rivals.

"I don't think they are that far behind," insisted Australian Potter.

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"I just feel they (Australia/New Zealand) get the pick of the best athletes whereas rugby league in England doesn't often get that chance.

"The best athletes here quite often go find another sport and league is down the pecking order.

"You need to try and get more people playing the game. It's the only way. You have to have more playing at the bottom so that you get more playing closer to the top."

Potter added: "There's not too much between the best of Australia's and England's forwards.

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"It's a little bit of an outside back area where the problem is but that's because kids in Australia play so much – league, tag, or touch – and do it in the backyard, on the beach or in the park.

"They're all the time thinking about what Darren Lockyer does or here's an Andrew Johns pass, but in England all the kids go kick a football pretending to be Steven Gerrard meaning, often, all those finer skills probably aren't there naturally."

Potter feels switching the junior amateur game to summer could be beneficial in the long-run to entice more people into the sport.

"The last thing kids want to do is go out in minus-two degrees when it's icy and snowing," he said.