Francis Cummins needs right tools for Bradford Bulls job

7:40am Friday 21st September 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Francis Cummins this week signed a three-year deal to succeed Mick Potter as Bulls coach Francis Cummins this week signed a three-year deal to succeed Mick Potter as Bulls coach

Gary Tasker has paid tribute to new Bulls coach Francis Cummins and believes he can prove a resounding success – provided he is given sufficient resources to work with.

Cummins was unveiled as successor to Mick Potter on a three-year deal by new owners Omar Khan and Gerry Sutcliffe on Monday.

Since being forced into an early retirement by injury aged 29, the former Leeds winger has established a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in the game.

Cummins, 35, served as assistant to Tony Smith and Brian McClennan at Headingley before spending the past two seasons as Potter’s right-hand man.

Interim Bulls chief executive Tasker said: “Three years ago, when I was at the RFL and dealing with Mick at St Helens, I was aware he was considering the coaching job at Bradford.

“I recommended Francis to him as an assistant at the time because I’d heard so many good reports about him from his work at Leeds.

“Senior professionals at Headingley felt he was more than ready to do the job at that time.

“He was a Super League coach-in-waiting and I really hope the Bulls’ new owners can secure the resources both on the field and in the backroom to enable him to be a real success.

“He certainly has the ability but he needs the right tools to work with.”

Tasker is in the final throes of his interim spell at Odsal and is currently working with Cummins as he bids to start assembling his squad and backroom staff for next season.

Comments(19)

murphyslaw says...
8:57am Fri 21 Sep 12

The right tools? It's more likely that for the immediate future at least he'll be working with scraps but that will be a measure of the man and allow us to see exactly what he's made of. Many good coaches have made their name by getting results from adversity and Franny has the chance to prove himself in what will be difficult times at the club. Lets hope he's given all the encouragement he needs.

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Mumby was the best says...
9:07am Fri 21 Sep 12

Sheffieldbull is the biggest tool on here so maybe franny will use him.

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mines a pint says...
9:23am Fri 21 Sep 12

murphyslaw wrote:
The right tools? It's more likely that for the immediate future at least he'll be working with scraps but that will be a measure of the man and allow us to see exactly what he's made of. Many good coaches have made their name by getting results from adversity and Franny has the chance to prove himself in what will be difficult times at the club. Lets hope he's given all the encouragement he needs.
If you saw the interview with Franny on sky it was clear that he knows the next few years are going to be a real challenge.

I found it quite re assuring when he spoke of coaches getting all the accolades for winning trophies when they have a team of internationals & a rich benefactor behind them

He showed real maturity when he spoke of his role at the Bulls & how the true test of coaching ability was being able motivate a young team not full of superstars & make them competitive week in week out

Lets face it we are likely to have a weaker team next year & the top 8 is going to be a struggle But if he can get the team playing with pride & passion & at least competing to the best of their ability then we are moving forward in the right direction

Franny was always going to succeed MP if OK had appointed anyone else (i.e. an established senior coach) questions would have been asked about future financial stability

In their first public action OK & GS have demonstrated they aim to manage the club within budget & slowly re build

Given the last 5 months we can not really ask for more

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Mumby was the best says...
9:30am Fri 21 Sep 12

I think a bit of the green eyed monster from franny there to be honest, He would love to have either a team full of internationals or a rich benefactor and better still both instead of what he has now.

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Capabull says...
9:43am Fri 21 Sep 12

All credit to Franny he like most fans know the next few seasons will be a slow rebuild without any big name signings. He probably could have waited till a better opportunity came along (which if Leeds lose tonight, who knows).
I just hope the fans don`t start getting on his back and calling for him to be sacked if we arent in the top 8, some are already lumping him in with the Codhead, because of his age and experience.Lets give him a chance its not just results on the playing field that matter the club has to show results on the financial running of the club to satisfy the RL during the probationary period.

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Mumby was the best says...
9:54am Fri 21 Sep 12

Rugby is a results based business and the coach usually is the one to get the chop, speaking of which you may be right with your statement and the result tonight has no bearing.

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Sheffieldbull says...
10:18am Fri 21 Sep 12

I think we need to remember that Francis is completely aware of the Bulls situation - remember, like MP,he's toiled for now't for the past few months, knows better than anyone the squad he is likely to be working with, will have a bloody good idea now what financial restraints he'll be under - and yet is still totally positive and hungry to take the team forward. For goodness sake lets give him our wholehearted support. Next year, success will not solely be judged by league position or trophies (tongue in cheek about the trophies) but more a continuation of the passion and commitment we've seen from the team over the last few months under MP AND Francis. If we can continue in that vain, for me, thats what success will look like. COYBs we're OK!

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Prycey says...
10:45am Fri 21 Sep 12

I doubt Franny would have got another job offer quickly - not because of him personally, but because there seems to be this idea that Ausies are always best when they are clearly not always best. How refreshing it is to see one of our own given his first job. OK, there are risks but that's life. Capabull is right about us not comparing him to SM - he is not SM - although I do believe that SM would be a good coach at one of the top 4 clubs as it was him who was doing the skills coaching under Nobby and got very little credit for it. Give him his chance and see how he goes. The main thing here is that we are all realistic about the next 2-3 years and don't start shouting for top international signings within a few weeks of forgetting what we have just scraped through.

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Old Dave says...
11:34am Fri 21 Sep 12

I expect that we might be looking for a coach in 12 months. If Franny does well and gets us to ninth in the league (top of the bottom teams) and Brain MAc continues his charm offensive at Leeds, I'd expect Gary to come calling for him. Hopefully triggering some compo in our direction for a change!

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Mumby was the best says...
11:44am Fri 21 Sep 12

Rumour on the rugby league grapevine is leeds will be wanting someone very shortly.

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Prycey says...
12:54pm Fri 21 Sep 12

I also think McDermot is on borrowed time at Leeds. He was very fortunate last year that the quality players all came good at the right time last year and saved him. I doubt they will do it again. Leeds fans that I know don't like him. I certainly wouldn't want his miserable style at Odsal though. Mick wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs but he came over as a really genuine bloke who I liked and trusted. Brian always seems to be acting in some kind of way when I see him being interviewed. Maybe it is just the way he learned to deal with people in the forces - very abrupt and no humour. If they keep winning then he is OK. Stop winning and goodby Brian. I think he would then find it difficult to find another SL club due to the average Ausies that get appointed first. Maybe that is why Franny was offered a 3 year contract?

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portugalbull says...
1:09pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Would like to see Gary staying at least until we have new CEO in position, and then passing on his experience and knowledge. In any event thanks to him for last 5months.

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portugalbull says...
1:09pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Would like to see Gary staying at least until we have new CEO in position, and then passing on his experience and knowledge. In any event thanks to him for last 5months.

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Mumby was the best says...
1:17pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Its not the winning that is keeping the job Prycey and wont make a difference in the long run but people on here don't believe anything I say anyway.

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murphyslaw says...
1:26pm Fri 21 Sep 12

mines a pint wrote:
murphyslaw wrote:
The right tools? It's more likely that for the immediate future at least he'll be working with scraps but that will be a measure of the man and allow us to see exactly what he's made of. Many good coaches have made their name by getting results from adversity and Franny has the chance to prove himself in what will be difficult times at the club. Lets hope he's given all the encouragement he needs.
If you saw the interview with Franny on sky it was clear that he knows the next few years are going to be a real challenge.

I found it quite re assuring when he spoke of coaches getting all the accolades for winning trophies when they have a team of internationals & a rich benefactor behind them

He showed real maturity when he spoke of his role at the Bulls & how the true test of coaching ability was being able motivate a young team not full of superstars & make them competitive week in week out

Lets face it we are likely to have a weaker team next year & the top 8 is going to be a struggle But if he can get the team playing with pride & passion & at least competing to the best of their ability then we are moving forward in the right direction

Franny was always going to succeed MP if OK had appointed anyone else (i.e. an established senior coach) questions would have been asked about future financial stability

In their first public action OK & GS have demonstrated they aim to manage the club within budget & slowly re build

Given the last 5 months we can not really ask for more
I seriously did not see the interview on sky but am delighted he is speaking in those terms. It is true to say many coaches are top coaches not least because of the riches with which they work but the real challenge is to be able to mould a good side when things are not quite so conducive. So while I am sure Franny is perfectly aware of these things it must be an exciting challenge for him and I just get the feeling he might surprise one or two.

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Mumby was the best says...
2:47pm Fri 21 Sep 12

The 3 year deal means he is made for the next 3 years at least.

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Adeybull says...
6:36pm Fri 21 Sep 12

From when he first joined, I thought he was likely to be groomed to succeed Potter. Seems pretty clear he is respected around the game by those in a position to hold an informed opinion.

Everyone in the game knows what a task he is taking on, so expectations of him will be relatively constrained. I have a sneaking suspicion he will exceed those expectations. Provided we all stick together, and back him - and each other. We have seen the consequences of a House Divided; maybe its about time for a united front and go show ';em?

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Shelfrhino says...
5:12am Sun 23 Sep 12

"Francis Cummins needs right tools for Bradford Bulls job"
Well he's certainly got a right tool in LSH.

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Shelfrhino says...
5:18am Sun 23 Sep 12

"Francis Cummins needs right tools for Bradford Bulls job"
Well he's certainly got a right tool in LSH.
How many more season tickets do you bulls fans reckon you will sell with this coaching team and the prices going up to a more realistic amount?
Also, how soon will it be before odslum is turned in to the "Wembley of the north", it would save us champions a hell of a lot of travelling if we only had to go to Bradford to play in all our inevitable finals. Get a move on.

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