What's cummins gonna do as he's openly spoken out about players he doesn't rate, players who's careers are over & players he wants out of bulls
But these players still have 1 year contracts left at the club. With only 16 players signed up looks like he's going to have to play the players who's careers are over- Langley Scruton and walker

Because Cummins and LSH doesn't look strong enough. Good blokes I'm sure but the concerns raised by Isaac, Tigs and others about FC not being tough enough aren't eased in any way by the presence of LSH and Barrow.

I wouldn't go so far as to say 'it can only work' if said are replaced but it's a fair concern in the circumstances.

Despite stating he'd like to be a head coach has he ever been rumoured/mentioned in the same breath as a vacancy despite being made redundant?

I'm not saying he's good, bad or indifferent. Just that the attitude towards him within the game is ambivalent.

Where's Cummins said stuff about players he doesn't rate? Got a link? I presume you mean Sykes and Platt? Seems Platt has worked his way back in the reckoning going by the T&A piece last week. I think Wakey will do a deal to get Sykes.

Langley's had a good season for us I reckon. Scruton's had an awful time with illness and injury, not sure if his career is over, I guess we'll find out as he's still under contract.

Are we re-signing Walker? If we do it shows that we are a bit desperate.

This is the 21st century. Being tough doesn't mean being able to chin the players - it means being ruthless, determined and prepared to make tough decision.

I haven't heard enough of FC to make that judgement on him, but you can be certain that size and demeanour are no longer an indicator of the type of toughness required.

Can anyone name any ex-wingers that became top coaches?

There's Wayne Bennett but then I'm struggling to think of any.

Wasn't Kear a winger?

Of course he was!

To be fair, the last few games of the season he was excellent.

Agreed, and with Sibbit and Elima leaving I think we still need a bit of experience to pass onto Bateman, Olby, Whitehead.

Alright he's no Elima or Menzies but when fit he can do a decent job and I doubt he's on big money.

Walker had a few good games early on in the season but I thought his second spell was poor - though coming back from injury probably had something to do with it. If he's kept on it'll be for his experience I expect, injuries have taken their toll on him.

David Plange...

....I said top coaches



If you include anyone then Les Kiss was another.

Well IIRC he did guide Hunslet to the Northern Ford Premiership in the late 90's!



Is that not worthy of greatness??

I think his spell at Wire overshadowed that unfortunately!

As for others. Wasn't Tony Currie a coach briefly? Think back in the 50s Eric Batten bacame a coach.

Can hardly think of any more wingers doing the job.

He's been making these comments to bulls employees all last year, and he also included Donaldson so it's a little two faced of him to have to try and work with these players that he has said are crap, finished and useless

Sykes has shown bulls to be a very poor outfit, look how well he's come on at Wakefield, and yet potter and cummins didn't rate him!

Some Widnes fans are claiming that Scrutes has already signed a two year deal for them, but as with all internet rumours, caveat emptor applies. Strangely enough they were making out this was a big coup for next year. Maybe they just don't realise the problems he's had recently.

A coach needs presence and the ability to inspire.IMO Cummins has neither,but I will be happy to proven wrong.

I would much rather have gone back to Oz and signed Brian Smith,despite his age as he can motivate and is a top notch coach.He still had unfinished business from the last time he was here where he prepared the ground for Matthew Elliot and an unparalleled period of growth and success.It is gonna take a leader of men to get us back to the top,Cummins has it all to prove.I would have given him a 1 year contract not bloody 3,as if it turns out he is not up to the job we are stuck with him.Plus Smith has contacts and may have been able to coax an ozzie or two across to Odsal as he did last time.

A massive gamble imo.


MadasMcmadamMcmad.

And you would have found the money from where?

Special coach levy on the fans?

Cummins was free then for 3 years?

1 year of Smith is worth,imo,more than 3 years of Cummins as they stand at present.He could have steadied the ship and pointed the club in the right direction..




Madas.

I think we possibly need to wait until we see how the coaching team stacks up when it is finalised. We still don't know about a no. 2 nor if there is to be a 'director of rugby' appointed, either of which could address your fears.

Ah Smith might be his No2 thenicon_smile.gif

3 year contract for an unproven coach,to me does not make sense.If he's useless then we will have to honour the 3 years.It should have been 1 year and then re asses imo.If he was any good Leeds would not have let him go,but they put Macca in charge didn't they.We are gonna need a wise head,but if we've NO CASH then his No 2 is gonna be a world beater thats for sure.lol.


Madas.

So I assume you are (or were ) a Bulls employee. Or were these "comments" second hand?
The tone of your post suggests you are not too convinced that Potter or Cummins were good coaches and this is based on the fact that Sykes is a clearly better player for Wakefield than he was for us. And don't forget that we did amass more wins than either of this weekends eliminated teams.There's a few examples of players showing better form for us than their previous teams.
As for Donaldson , I doubt anyone would judge him a bad player when terrible injuries have wrecked his last 2 seasons.
PS Wingers as coaches== David Waite was a winger and not too shoddy a coach. Roy Francis achieved a certain claim to be a decent coach .And the greatest coach of the past 25 years has already been mentioned - Wayne Bennett.

IIRC both Ellery & Meninga started their international careers on the wing? And the greatest of them all, John Joyner, started out there.

Its irrelevant who played where Re making a good coach.Look at Peter Fox.He inspired ordinary guys to play ABOVE themselves,which is what we are gonna need.Can Cummins do the same?I doubt it,but thats my opinion having watched him as a player over many years.

Greatest of them all,John Joiner?You're havin a larf Yes?Hanley was a Rugby League prodigy,end of.