Francis Cummins will continue to scour the market for potential new recruits following the injury setbacks suffered by Luke Gale and John Bateman.

Key playmaker Gale is battling to be fit for the start of the season after undergoing ankle surgery which will rule him out for eight weeks.

Home-grown back-rower Bateman will be out for three months as he prepares to have a shoulder reconstruction on Monday.

While Cummins is blessed with plenty of back-rowers, he admits Gale’s absence is a concern. The Bulls coach also remains on the look-out for at least one more prop, although former Leeds and Hull man Ewan Dowes is not on his radar.

Cummins said: “There are conversations about other players as you go along, that’s just how it is.

“We are very lucky in that we’ve got some very good back-rowers and quite a lot of them too.

“But half-back is an issue. Things obviously depend on how Galey’s rehab’ goes but the make-up of the squad is an ongoing process and I never stop thinking about it.

“It’s all about who becomes available and whether they will add to the squad. If not then we will look within the squad.”

Meanwhile, Cummins is edging closer to appointing a coach for the new Under-19s side.

Stu Barrow assisted head of youth development Paul Medley with the Bulls’ youngsters last season but has since departed the club.

Cummins said: “We’re well on with the process and will make sure it’s the right person for the job and that age group.”