DISKIN BACKING OLD BOYS TO BRING SUCCESS

27th September 2012

Bulls joint captain Matt Diskin hopes that he and his former Rhinos teammates can help kick-start a new era at Odsal

Francis Cummins was appointed the club’s new head coach at the start of last week and back-row forward Chev Walker has also agreed to remain at the club – signing a new one year deal.

The trio all played their part in Leeds’s first Super League winning campaign, as they beat the Bulls in the 2004 Grand Final at Old Trafford 16-8.

Cummins retired a year later because of injury and began his coaching career, whilst Walker has gone on to play for Bath Rugby Union and Hull KR, before signing for the Bulls in 2010.

Diskin - who won the Harry Sunderland Award in that final almost 8 years ago, believes that experience Walker has gained will stand the squad in good stead going into the 2013, as Cummins’s men look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

He spoke to Ben Turner and said:

“I’ve played with Chev for the majority of my career and he’s a tough player that’s had a good career but he’s also a good professional to have around. The young guys coming through can learn a lot from him, like Elliot Whitehead, who’s still young and still growing and you need people like Chev around to instil that little bit of professionalism in the squad. That’s why Franny wants Chev at the club, because of what he can give to the younger players and he also provides of with a bit of versatility in our squad.”

Former Great Britain international also thinks highly of his new boss, saying:

“Franny is genuine, straight and honest, and, as players, that’s the approach you like to see.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad news, as long as he tells it how it is we will all respect him, and as a group, we all can’t wait to get to work with him.”