Bradford Bulls boss Cummins on ‘sensible’ decision to play just two friendlies (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford Bulls boss Francis Cummins on ‘sensible’ decision to have just two pre-season friendlies
6:50am Friday 19th October 2012 in Bulls
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Pre-season fixtures pose an injury risk, says Francis Cummins
Bulls coach Francis Cummins has confirmed that matches against Dewsbury Rams and Leeds Rhinos are set to be the only two pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2013 campaign.
Bradford will play Championship outfit Dewsbury on January 13 followed by another short trip to rivals Leeds in Danny McGuire’s testimonial at Headingley on Sunday, January 20.
Last year’s pre-season schedule saw the Bulls play Castleford in the traditional Boxing Day fixture before further friendlies against Dewsbury and Hull FC.
There was also a scheduled friendly at Featherstone Rovers, which was postponed due to a frozen pitch, and a youthful Bulls side, comprising mainly Under-20s players, faced Keighley at Cougar Park.
The Rugby Football League have decided to scrap the Under-18s Academy and Under-20s Valvoline Cup competitions and replace them with a new Under-19s division.
And with the Bulls’ first-team squad set to be considerably smaller than last term, Cummins is keen to use his players sparingly before the new Super League campaign gets underway in February.
He explained: “Touch wood, we will have a squad of 25 but we can’t be having three or four friendlies, so we will keep them to a minimum.
“We’ve agreed to play Leeds and Dewsbury and that’s probably as many as I want to play.
“Last year we had a bigger first-team squad and an Under-20s side, so you’re probably talking about 50 players there.
“We’ve now just got an Under-19s, and some of them will be featuring in both pre-season games while others won’t be ready.
“Therefore we’ve got to be sensible about how we approach this.”
The traditional Boxing Day fixture has often been played during a cold snap and last season’s outing at Castleford saw Tom Olbison succumb to a shoulder injury which sidelined him for three months.
Cummins added: “I don’t think any club want the Boxing Day fixture.
“With a smaller squad, there is obviously that fear of losing a player to injury.
“We lost Tom Olbison for three months last season and we can’t afford for that to happen again.”
Comments(30)
UNBULLIEVABLE
says...
11:12am Fri 19 Oct 12
Steam Pigs wrote:I agree!! , I can see BIG trouble ahead with such a small sqaud.... can anyone remember a season when we have NOT had a good number of injuries at the same time?? , I can't
Touch wood, we will have a squad of 25
Touch wood we get NO injuries next year or woden spoon time
Capabull
says...
11:56am Fri 19 Oct 12
A SENSIBLE LADY
says...
12:25pm Fri 19 Oct 12
A SENSIBLE LADY
says...
12:26pm Fri 19 Oct 12
mdn
says...
12:49pm Fri 19 Oct 12
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:dont know why you can't come out from under your bridge and do your own research, but squad as it stands is
Still waiting for the 1-25 squad to be put on here.
1. Kearney
2. Purtell
3. Lulia
4. Blyth
5. Kear
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. Diskin
10. Manuokafoa
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Langley
Subs:
14: L'Estrange
15. Olbison
16. Walker
17. Platt
Reserve
18: O'brien
19: Southernwood
20: Roberts
21: Naughton
22: Wood
new deals for Ainscough, Addy and Donaldson still under discussion and further signings still ongoing.
theviking62
says...
12:56pm Fri 19 Oct 12
mdn wrote:MDN, A Sensible Women, is a TROLL, known as , FAKE Mumby, TBC, SLC52. Take no notice. Still trying it on FAKE.
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:dont know why you can't come out from under your bridge and do your own research, but squad as it stands is
Still waiting for the 1-25 squad to be put on here.
1. Kearney
2. Purtell
3. Lulia
4. Blyth
5. Kear
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. Diskin
10. Manuokafoa
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Langley
Subs:
14: L'Estrange
15. Olbison
16. Walker
17. Platt
Reserve
18: O'brien
19: Southernwood
20: Roberts
21: Naughton
22: Wood
new deals for Ainscough, Addy and Donaldson still under discussion and further signings still ongoing.
A SENSIBLE LADY
says...
1:03pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Sheffieldbull
says...
1:53pm Fri 19 Oct 12
mdn wrote:Not withstanding the Troll thats currently calling itself 'A SENSIBLE LADY', thanks to mdn for putting together the list as it stands. Got to say it looks very strong as it stands subject to Purts getting clearance, and hopefully as you say there will be contracts for Addy, Ainsy and Donny. You could argue that if we have the same luck with injuries as we have had in the last two seasons, then a squad of 40 wouldn't be enough! Lets pray for some decent luck for a change... COYBs!
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:dont know why you can't come out from under your bridge and do your own research, but squad as it stands is
Still waiting for the 1-25 squad to be put on here.
1. Kearney
2. Purtell
3. Lulia
4. Blyth
5. Kear
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. Diskin
10. Manuokafoa
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Langley
Subs:
14: L'Estrange
15. Olbison
16. Walker
17. Platt
Reserve
18: O'brien
19: Southernwood
20: Roberts
21: Naughton
22: Wood
new deals for Ainscough, Addy and Donaldson still under discussion and further signings still ongoing.
bullsmania
says...
2:01pm Fri 19 Oct 12
mdn wrote:Ainscough doesn't want to touch Bradford bulls I'm afraid!
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:dont know why you can't come out from under your bridge and do your own research, but squad as it stands is
Still waiting for the 1-25 squad to be put on here.
1. Kearney
2. Purtell
3. Lulia
4. Blyth
5. Kear
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. Diskin
10. Manuokafoa
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Langley
Subs:
14: L'Estrange
15. Olbison
16. Walker
17. Platt
Reserve
18: O'brien
19: Southernwood
20: Roberts
21: Naughton
22: Wood
new deals for Ainscough, Addy and Donaldson still under discussion and further signings still ongoing.
theviking62
says...
3:01pm Fri 19 Oct 12
LoyalBull
says...
3:48pm Fri 19 Oct 12
bullsmania wrote:Only Platty from the Lancashire car that is staying put.
mdn wrote:Ainscough doesn't want to touch Bradford bulls I'm afraid!
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:dont know why you can't come out from under your bridge and do your own research, but squad as it stands is
Still waiting for the 1-25 squad to be put on here.
1. Kearney
2. Purtell
3. Lulia
4. Blyth
5. Kear
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. Diskin
10. Manuokafoa
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Langley
Subs:
14: L'Estrange
15. Olbison
16. Walker
17. Platt
Reserve
18: O'brien
19: Southernwood
20: Roberts
21: Naughton
22: Wood
new deals for Ainscough, Addy and Donaldson still under discussion and further signings still ongoing.
A SENSIBLE LADY
says...
4:03pm Fri 19 Oct 12
bullsmania
says...
4:10pm Fri 19 Oct 12
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:No it's because of the way he has been treated- despicable!
Is that because he is not wanted ?
A SENSIBLE LADY
says...
4:35pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Reading Bullette
says...
4:39pm Fri 19 Oct 12
bullsmania wrote:Well he could have walked out like that ******** Kopczak. Then he could claim he has been badly treated..
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:No it's because of the way he has been treated- despicable!
Is that because he is not wanted ?
mdn
says...
5:47pm Fri 19 Oct 12
LoyalBull wrote:Think you might want to rethink that post re platt in next couple of days ;-)
bullsmania wrote:Only Platty from the Lancashire car that is staying put.
mdn wrote:Ainscough doesn't want to touch Bradford bulls I'm afraid!
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:dont know why you can't come out from under your bridge and do your own research, but squad as it stands is
Still waiting for the 1-25 squad to be put on here.
1. Kearney
2. Purtell
3. Lulia
4. Blyth
5. Kear
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. Diskin
10. Manuokafoa
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Langley
Subs:
14: L'Estrange
15. Olbison
16. Walker
17. Platt
Reserve
18: O'brien
19: Southernwood
20: Roberts
21: Naughton
22: Wood
new deals for Ainscough, Addy and Donaldson still under discussion and further signings still ongoing.
bullsmania
says...
7:49pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Reading Bullette wrote:Reading Retard
bullsmania wrote:Well he could have walked out like that ******** Kopczak. Then he could claim he has been badly treated..
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:No it's because of the way he has been treated- despicable!
Is that because he is not wanted ?
I've been told who you are hiding behind that computer haha evil laugh......be very careful!
Sheffieldbull
says...
8:17pm Fri 19 Oct 12
bullsmania
says...
9:46pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Sheffieldbull wrote:Bahahahaha
bullsmania, you snivelling cowardly little Troll. I'm fed up of hearing what you've heard - always turns out to be hollyhocks. You're sources are as dilatory as you - a total waste of skin! Here's something else you've heard.. ...Do one!!..., I've heard you are a scabby little toad, so you be careful! Got it?
Don't show yourself up sheffieldbull
Your bitter because bulls are like a piece of **** being flushed down the toilet, going, going,gone!!
theviking62
says...
10:24pm Fri 19 Oct 12
hottoddy
says...
10:44pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Signings, your demands for names,clubs,desp
ite you being close to 16s, .I rest my case re article in t&g, eat your hat or humble pie which ever you prefer. but question your sources befor going public. O
theviking62
says...
11:05pm Fri 19 Oct 12
bullsmania
says...
12:27pm Sat 20 Oct 12
theviking62 wrote:Yes and what an power house our new prop is, he will smash skinny twerp Scruton to pieces, and is injured donkey Langley is still playing with a crocked shoulder he will demolish him too.
Bull mania, was it you who switched to wildcats. Are you aware they have just signed a new player. Headlines say " Wildcats make poore signing "
What power house prop do you have? Don't say naz- he needs to work on keeping hold of the ball!!
I await the news of your recruitment on a new prop to replace the 3 that f&cked off!
theviking62
says...
1:44pm Sat 20 Oct 12
bullsmania wrote:What a toss pot you are, always resorting to type. Using obscene innuendo. Trinity are welcome to you. Powerhouse, I don't think so. I understand he, also, carries an injury. Got this from a friend in Oz. Just some news for you to follow, Bulls about to make a signing bigger than yours, injury free, as well.
theviking62 wrote:Yes and what an power house our new prop is, he will smash skinny twerp Scruton to pieces, and is injured donkey Langley is still playing with a crocked shoulder he will demolish him too.
Bull mania, was it you who switched to wildcats. Are you aware they have just signed a new player. Headlines say " Wildcats make poore signing "
What power house prop do you have? Don't say naz- he needs to work on keeping hold of the ball!!
I await the news of your recruitment on a new prop to replace the 3 that f&cked off!
I really do enjoy your posts, they make my day, along with all the other Troll posters. You don't know what you do for my health. Laughter is the best medicine, and by eck you all make me laugh.
Sheffieldbull
says...
2:33pm Sat 20 Oct 12
bullsmania wrote:Power House? More like Powder puff. Just another Grade 2 Aussie who can't cut it in the NRL. Should fit in well with the rest of your rejects eh?
theviking62 wrote:Yes and what an power house our new prop is, he will smash skinny twerp Scruton to pieces, and is injured donkey Langley is still playing with a crocked shoulder he will demolish him too.
Bull mania, was it you who switched to wildcats. Are you aware they have just signed a new player. Headlines say " Wildcats make poore signing "
What power house prop do you have? Don't say naz- he needs to work on keeping hold of the ball!!
I await the news of your recruitment on a new prop to replace the 3 that f&cked off!
Trinity got anything coming through the youth system?
A SENSIBLE LADY
says...
3:30pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Hardly 2nd rate.
raisemeup
says...
5:11pm Sat 20 Oct 12
bullsmania wrote:Were you the one who swore blind that Luke Gale was going to Huddersfield?
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:No it's because of the way he has been treated- despicable!
Is that because he is not wanted ?
Probably not, but everything you post has no bearing to the truth, so we'll wait and see shall we?
Sheffieldbull
says...
5:23pm Sat 20 Oct 12
raisemeup wrote:Couldn't find it's backside with both hands raise', It must make talking difficult for it though.
bullsmania wrote:Were you the one who swore blind that Luke Gale was going to Huddersfield?
A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:No it's because of the way he has been treated- despicable!
Is that because he is not wanted ?
Probably not, but everything you post has no bearing to the truth, so we'll wait and see shall we?
theviking62
says...
5:34pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Steam Pigs says...
10:22am Fri 19 Oct 12
Touch wood we get NO injuries next year or woden spoon time