Rowley looking forward to working with the Bulls... not against them

The Centurions finished six points above Bradford at the end of the 23 weekly rounds ahead of the all-important Qualifiers.

In the end, both sides failed to go up, but much has changed since then.

Rowley and fellow ex-hooker Jimmy Lowes both quit their respective roles at the Bulls and Leigh earlier this season.

Lowes is working with his old Bradford team-mate Brian McDermott on the coaching staff at Leeds Rhinos.

Rowley?

He is head coach of the newly-formed Toronto Wolfpack, who will enter League One next season.

As part of his job, Rowley is seeking to forge a working relationship with Bulls counterpart Rohan Smith as the two clubs prepare to share the Tong training facility in Bradford.

Rowley said yesterday: “It is a bit of a unique situation and, from speaking to Rohan briefly, we both see it as a potentially having huge benefit for both clubs.

“It would be great to have two quality sides having opposed training sessions against as regularly as we both see fit.

“That’s the main benefit, initially, but the other benefit is that we can cast an eye on one another’s players, with the opportunity to utilise that partnership.

“That could be in the form of a dual-reg partnership, loans or whatever else it may be.

“I’m particularly keen on getting a good working relationship with Rohan, who I think is a really good guy, so it will be enjoyable and beneficial to both clubs.

“I just see a lot of positives and once we logistically work out how we are going to share the same space – and there will inevitably be some rubbing of shoulders – you would like to think we can all grow together.

“Hopefully Bradford can take the step up to Super League and we can take the step up into the Championship.

“That would be nice, so I see a lot of benefits and a little bit of flexibility from both clubs in terms of making things work.

“When you are willing to make it work, it’s never a problem.”

Rowley himself is based in the Manchester area but he is familiar with these parts having represented Halifax and Huddersfield during his playing days.

By using Tong and basing themselves in the middle of rugby league’s heartland, Rowley believes it will be easier to attract players to sign for Toronto.

The Wolfpack will be a full-time outfit in the third tier next season and over a dozen players have already agreed to join them on their ambitious journey.

Promotion to Super League is their aim and Rowley explained: “Straight away, I wanted to have the Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax area covered because we are starting from scratch in our recruitment drive.

“We didn’t want any obstructions in terms of people having to travel too far.

“Being based at Tong gives us the pick of the M62 corridor, if you like, and works well for us logistically.

“We have yet to put the finishing touches to it, but we’re not far off getting a squad together in terms of verbal commitments from players.

“Promotion next year would be fantastic but we are fully respectful of the quality of teams in League One.

“It looks like Toulouse will go up this season as they have a very strong side.”

The concept of the Wolfpack came from Toronto-born businessman Eric Perez and is financed largely by wealthy Australian businessman David Argyle, a 55-year-old mining investor.

Also on the club's board will be rugby player-turned-actor Adam Fogerty, who made the initial approach to Noble.

Noble, Rowley and Fogerty are due to embark on a tour of North America and Canada as they look to recruit players.

Rowley said of the road trip, which will be televised: “We’re going to Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Montreal, Toronto and New York.

“There is a television arm to the Wolfpack where we will address some social issues with young American NFL players, no doubt, who don’t have the skill set to go on and become successful in other walks of life.

“We are giving a second chance to some of those players through a series of trials and hopefully we can pick up some untapped talent who haven’t made it.

“There is undoubtedly athletes of a very high calibre who exceed anything we have in this country.”

Rowley has been linked with the vacant coaching position at Huddersfield following Paul Anderson’s recent departure.

Rowley explained: “I said if they wanted somebody short-term to help them stabilise, I would help them out to give them breathing space to pick the right man.

“Huddersfield have some good people there with Luke Robinson and Chris Thorman.

“My assistant Simon Finnigan and I are both ex-Huddersfield players and would have come in and provided assistance. But no, my commitments are fully with Toronto.”