The Bulls received a helping hand from an unlikely source this week – Leeds supremo Gary Hetherington.

Coach Francis Cummins and football and media manager Stuart Duffy met Rhinos chief executive Hetherington on Monday at Headingley to discuss matters related to player recruitment, dealing with agents and negotiating contracts.

Duffy, who like Cummins arrived at Odsal after a long association with Leeds, explained: “It was a general discussion about what we do in the game and how it’s run.

“Francis and I have taken a lot on in the football department and we obviously want to look at how other clubs do things.

“The new owners are focused on turning the business around and Franny and I are taking care of the football side of the club.

“Gary Hetherington has run a successful model at Leeds over a number of years and is just one of a number of people we will be talking to in the next few weeks as we look to get the Bulls back to the top again.

“Gary was very free with his time and his advice as he explained how things are done at Leeds with regards to football and some of the business side of the club.”

While the Bulls have agreed a twinning partnership with Dewsbury Rams, Leeds have struck a similar arrangement with Hunslet Hawks.

Duffy added: “We spoke to Gary about how Leeds’ partnership works and we’ll continue to seek best practices from other clubs.”