Cummins backed to ‘do a fantastic job’ at Bradford Bulls (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Francis Cummins backed to ‘do a fantastic job’ at Bradford Bulls
6:50am Thursday 1st November 2012 in Sport
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Willie Poching runs into Jamie Peacock while playing for Leeds in the Super League Grand Final of 2004
Few know Francis Cummins better than the man who worked alongside the Bulls coach for several years at Leeds, winning a clutch of Super League titles along the way.
Willie Poching was a team-mate and later a fellow assistant coach of Cummins at Headingley, with the pair serving as right-hand men to Tony Smith and latterly Brian McClennan.
Cummins brought to an end a 17-year stint with Leeds when he joined Bradford as Mick Potter’s assistant two years ago.
Poching, who became reunited with Smith at Warrington and has ambitions to become a head coach himself one day, believes Cummins fully deserves his chance at Odsal.
The 39-year-old Wolves assistant coach said: “I’m delighted for Franny that he has got his hands on a team because he’s been ready for this for a long time.
“He’s been at the Bulls for a couple of years now and will do a fantastic job. He knows the culture and the environment at Bradford, so it’s a big chance to put his spin on things. I’ve no doubt he will make them a better side.”
Cummins and Poching were part of the backroom team when Leeds won three successive Grand Finals between 2007 and 2009 after calling time on successful playing careers at Headingley.
The Bulls coach’s relationship with Poching and Smith remains strong and was the link which brought Matty Blythe to Bradford on a season-long loan.
“We were together as assistants for a good four years at Leeds, working closely, and Franny taught me a lot,” explained Poching.
“He started the year before me and was already the head assistant as I came in as the under-20s coach.
“We worked closely in the same office, in an intense environment, for four years, so we were bound to build a strong relationship. He’s been a massive help to me and that’s why I believe he will be such a good head coach.
“He’s a student of his craft; a student of coaching. Like anyone, he wants to be as good as he possibly can be at his job.
“He goes out to research and meet people – Sir Alex Ferguson was one of them – and I know he’s working hard already to put things in place at Bradford. That’s how he will be throughout his time as head coach of Bradford.”
Both men have learnt from Smith, their Leeds mentor, and Poching has no doubts over Cummins’ ability to conjure a winning formula.
He said: “Regardless of what players Franny has, he’s going to improve them and mould them into a very good team.
“Bradford have undergone a massive change in recent years and losing the likes of Robbie Paul, Lesley Vainikolo, Joe Vagana, Jamie Peacock and Mick Withers was bound to affect them.
“It’s just unfortunate for Bradford that they all left around the same time, so it was a quick changeover.
“They’ve been put to the test in recent years and I’m sure they will come through this rebuilding process.
“Franny is under no illusions about that. I think everyone just needs to be patient and trust in his recruitment of the younger players. I think they will win more than they lose.”
It is worth remembering that Warrington were perennial underachievers for many years until Smith’s arrival.
The former Huddersfield and Leeds boss has presided over a genuine renaissance at the Cheshire club and Poching sees similarities with the way Leeds ended decades of similarly falling short in 2004.
Smith, with Cummins and Poching in his team, guided Leeds to their first championship in 32 years.
Poching said: “Warrington were massive underachievers but that’s all changed now. They’ve got a belief about themselves and a culture is being built at this club where everyone has the right to believe they can achieve.”
Having seen Cummins take the reins at Odsal, Poching admitted: “Have I got ambitions to become a head coach? Yes, definitely. Just like when I started playing, I had ambitions to play first-grade and I did that.
“I’ve started out on a journey in coaching and I’m trying to do my apprenticeship to reach that position. Franny’s appointment at Bradford is encouraging for all aspiring head coaches.”
Comments(13)
Archie's Ghost
says...
7:53am Thu 1 Nov 12
Shipley Paul
says...
8:27am Thu 1 Nov 12
Archie's Ghost wrote:I think it's a farly good bet Francis is aware of the need to sign players in specific positons.
I don't care if he's Wayne Bennett, unless he signs a minimum of seven players, three of whom are props we're competeing for the wooden spoon.
bullybullman
says...
9:19am Thu 1 Nov 12
Prycey wrote:Most of the dregs he ended up with were Maccas signings ! he had the full cap for all but one of the seasons he was head coach ! Poor judgment & soft managment were Maccas downfall.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to see more clubs show faith in British coaches? Ausie coaches tend to be set on by clubs with money to spend. We had money when Smith and Elliott were building and so have the bigger clubs. British coaches tend to get a chance when the club is skint or struggling so well done to Leeds and Wigan for bucking that trend. This makes British coaches look inferior. Macca struggled with us but when we had the top players and winning he was actually doing the majority of the coaching with Nobby but he ended up with the dregs when the club ran out of money. I hope people give Franny the time as it may take a number of years to build a backbone of a team of home grown youngsters the way they did it at Leeds a decade ago. Wouldn’t that be lovely and it could last a decade for us too. Getting bored with the cheating and diving round ball game on TV. Can’t wait till February and watch real sportsmen get stuck in again.
Im glad to see Franny seems to be a harder task master & has some good fresh idea only time will tell.
bullybullman
says...
9:22am Thu 1 Nov 12
Archie's Ghost wrote:Wooden spoon ! I think you may find Salford , London , Widnes , Wakefield & Cas will be up for that before us even if we didnt sign another player.
I don't care if he's Wayne Bennett, unless he signs a minimum of seven players, three of whom are props we're competeing for the wooden spoon.
Solomon Grundy
says...
9:28am Thu 1 Nov 12
bullybullman wrote:Without front row forwards in SL you will get smashed, thus far we don't seem to be signing any.
Archie's Ghost wrote:Wooden spoon ! I think you may find Salford , London , Widnes , Wakefield & Cas will be up for that before us even if we didnt sign another player.
I don't care if he's Wayne Bennett, unless he signs a minimum of seven players, three of whom are props we're competeing for the wooden spoon.
Plus we need a back up half back and 2 wingers.
raisemeup
says...
11:16am Thu 1 Nov 12
Solomon Grundy wrote:have patience folks, we all know Rome wasn't built in a day.
bullybullman wrote:Without front row forwards in SL you will get smashed, thus far we don't seem to be signing any.
Archie's Ghost wrote:Wooden spoon ! I think you may find Salford , London , Widnes , Wakefield & Cas will be up for that before us even if we didnt sign another player.
I don't care if he's Wayne Bennett, unless he signs a minimum of seven players, three of whom are props we're competeing for the wooden spoon.
Plus we need a back up half back and 2 wingers.
Knee jerk reactions are the worst way to run a good club.
Franny needs the strength of a good infrastructure around him before the team is fully built.
We don't want the problems of the past to be the legacy of the future.
Personally I feel the movement is in the right direction...so patience is the key for the moment.
Mumby was the best
says...
11:31am Thu 1 Nov 12
raisemeup wrote:Well said I think (hope) that he has players lined up. Most of the players who left or weren`t retained with a few exceptions were very average and would not have got into a top 4 team.I think FC is rebuilding with a core of players he knows can do a job, and with youth on their side for years to come. Lets be patient.
Solomon Grundy wrote:have patience folks, we all know Rome wasn't built in a day.
bullybullman wrote:Without front row forwards in SL you will get smashed, thus far we don't seem to be signing any.
Archie's Ghost wrote:Wooden spoon ! I think you may find Salford , London , Widnes , Wakefield & Cas will be up for that before us even if we didnt sign another player.
I don't care if he's Wayne Bennett, unless he signs a minimum of seven players, three of whom are props we're competeing for the wooden spoon.
Plus we need a back up half back and 2 wingers.
Knee jerk reactions are the worst way to run a good club.
Franny needs the strength of a good infrastructure around him before the team is fully built.
We don't want the problems of the past to be the legacy of the future.
Personally I feel the movement is in the right direction...so patience is the key for the moment.
Shelfrhino
says...
1:56pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Mumby was the best wrote:Strange, how these players you now call very average were all supermen a couple of weeks ago according to you and the other soft tarts who post their shizzle on here.
raisemeup wrote:Well said I think (hope) that he has players lined up. Most of the players who left or weren`t retained with a few exceptions were very average and would not have got into a top 4 team.I think FC is rebuilding with a core of players he knows can do a job, and with youth on their side for years to come. Lets be patient.
Solomon Grundy wrote:have patience folks, we all know Rome wasn't built in a day.
bullybullman wrote:Without front row forwards in SL you will get smashed, thus far we don't seem to be signing any.
Archie's Ghost wrote:Wooden spoon ! I think you may find Salford , London , Widnes , Wakefield & Cas will be up for that before us even if we didnt sign another player.
I don't care if he's Wayne Bennett, unless he signs a minimum of seven players, three of whom are props we're competeing for the wooden spoon.
Plus we need a back up half back and 2 wingers.
Knee jerk reactions are the worst way to run a good club.
Franny needs the strength of a good infrastructure around him before the team is fully built.
We don't want the problems of the past to be the legacy of the future.
Personally I feel the movement is in the right direction...so patience is the key for the moment.
You are the typical dulls fan, knows nowt, big mouth and tight wallet. Will you bother turning up at the Halal hole next season, you and your lobotomised sidekick, viking? I doubt it.
franklyn
says...
3:33pm Thu 1 Nov 12
STUPID BOY.
murphyslaw
says...
3:45pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:What a daft thing to say, take franklyns advice mate and do one!
Mumby was the best wrote:Strange, how these players you now call very average were all supermen a couple of weeks ago according to you and the other soft tarts who post their shizzle on here.
raisemeup wrote:Well said I think (hope) that he has players lined up. Most of the players who left or weren`t retained with a few exceptions were very average and would not have got into a top 4 team.I think FC is rebuilding with a core of players he knows can do a job, and with youth on their side for years to come. Lets be patient.
Solomon Grundy wrote:have patience folks, we all know Rome wasn't built in a day.
bullybullman wrote:Without front row forwards in SL you will get smashed, thus far we don't seem to be signing any.
Archie's Ghost wrote:Wooden spoon ! I think you may find Salford , London , Widnes , Wakefield & Cas will be up for that before us even if we didnt sign another player.
I don't care if he's Wayne Bennett, unless he signs a minimum of seven players, three of whom are props we're competeing for the wooden spoon.
Plus we need a back up half back and 2 wingers.
Knee jerk reactions are the worst way to run a good club.
Franny needs the strength of a good infrastructure around him before the team is fully built.
We don't want the problems of the past to be the legacy of the future.
Personally I feel the movement is in the right direction...so patience is the key for the moment.
You are the typical dulls fan, knows nowt, big mouth and tight wallet. Will you bother turning up at the Halal hole next season, you and your lobotomised sidekick, viking? I doubt it.
Mumby was the best
says...
4:58pm Thu 1 Nov 12
franklyn wrote:Steady on there Franklyn saying things like that upsets Timmy!! He`s been known to blub over his keyboard because the poor soul drove to Grangemouth and back in one day and could not resist biting and making a fool of himself, then when pushed the fool declares is DADDY buys his season ticket What a to$$er !! Wonder what wonderful insights he will let us into now.
shelfrhino! i know its school holidays and you must be getting a little bored by now, with nothing to occupy your little mind. please go find a school forum to play on and leave this site to the adults who ant to have a grown up debate.
STUPID BOY.
Shelfrhino
says...
9:49pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Just because I know who my dad is, whereas yours could be any one of the rugby team that sorted your ma out.
Prycey says...
7:50am Thu 1 Nov 12