Saying "end of" at the end of a statement doesn't make it true. Don't recall anyone saying he's powder puff either. His technique isn't good enough though. Only a blind person would disagree. The stats back up what I see when he plays and falls off tackles.



You can't question Fox's motivation skills but he was a great coach who had proved himself long before he got to Northern and was way more experienced than Cummins. Cummins is in his first year in the job so you should cut him some slack, especially give the circumstances. Did you really expect us to be doing as well as we did last year with a far weaker squad? Even Fox's teams did worse when they lost key players, it's the same now!



I think you blaming the performance of the team on Cummins ignores the fact that we have a much weaker squad. I'd say in the circumstances we're doing alright. You say that Elliott for whatever reason has not progressed under Cummins. Well he wasn't doing any better under Potter. He 's a good attacker but he misses too many tackles.

If we're not improving in a couple of years under Cummins then it's maybe time for a change. I think you have to look at the context though.



Of course we'd expect something for him. He's a good attacker. He's just not as perfect as you think he is.

His tackling stats for the last 3 years ('11, '12 and '13) have him at 1, 4 and 1 for missed tackles in SL while only appearing once ('12) in the top 20 tacklers so it's not like the missed tackles is a new problem or his work rate in defence is so high that the missed tackles is compensated for by the tackles made overall.
However, even though his form appears to me to be lacklustre this year amongst the Bulls players he's 2nd for try assists, our highest metre maker in the forwards, has made the 4th highest number of tackles and 3rd in tackles burst so he's got talent.
He's also got the 2nd highest number of errors, behind Sammut, which can either be an indicator he's error prone or just that he's trying more risky stuff which doesn't come off.
Some good, some bad and he appears to have stalled somewhat, but he's certainly not a bad player and he did sign a long term contract so why shouldn't the Bulls receive a fee.

Bullseye,

Elliot is in his early 20's and guess what he has another 3/4 years before he reaches his prime.
Yes Cummins is in his coaching infancy and also has a lot to learn so to expect him to be able to motivate a small squad with no money available was too big an ask even before the season started and is precisely why an older head with experience should have been installed to guide us through this consolidation period.We shouldn't have thrown in Cummins just because he was cheaper imo anyway and I have said the same before a ball was passed this season.
So Yes I will cut Cummins some slack coz its not his fault,but the same also applies to Elliot,who,for all his faults has scored plenty of tries for a forward with many try scoring passes as well,in a poor side.To harp on and on about 1 stat is starting to sound as if its some kind of personal hate campaign.You don't rate him so you will be glad when he's gone,so why go on and on?Beats me.

The main reason posters harp on and on about his defensive frailties is IMHO they (I) feel let down by a Bradford lad who not long ago signed a long contract tying him to the club and stating this is where I want to be the Bulls are the only club I want to be at (or words to that effect).

Yes,so you would think that something occurred which has made him take this course?

OK,imo,I don't rate/trust the people who are in charge at the moment and I certainly don't think they have longevity.

"No marquee signings" as an announcement sets alarm bells ringing to me.Is that the way to boost interest/support?Many will say,ok,I'll start paying you my cash when you put some class on the field.
Sounds like a sure way to depress support/interest for next year.No,I don't like the way its going.At least in 1964,when they reformed they got financial backing and put some excellent players on the field which the public responded to in their thousands and is when I first started going to Odsal.
Maybe Caisley and his backers would have had more financial clout?icon_smile.gif))Never say never.

I was there in 1964 like you but I can`t remember any Marquee signings then, the majority of the players were gifted from the other clubs, mainly players who had had their best years like Wilkinson and Smales. or journey men.
The club in its present financial position would be off its trolley to make marquee signings and end up where we were last season, I don`t think the rest of RL would rally round like they did last year or back in 64.
Why don`t you rate or trust those in charge?

I would prefer him to be honest and say what he has, otherwise we would all be waiting for the announcement that never came. This would be more damaging to the person that made the initial claim and we would be quick to get on the managers back. FC is currently operating within certain financial constraints, and he's letting everyone know what challenges he has.

As for Caisley, if he has/had more financial clout than OK, I don't understand why he didn't make an offer for the club. He had his chance!!

I think it's a bit early to say what the new guys in charge are like. I've heard good and bad about them so far. One things for sure, they were the only ones to come up with the goods and buy the club out of admin so they're the only show in town.

On Whitehead I said only the day before he put in his transfer request that I thought he wasn't improving and that he might be better elsewhere at some stage. That said, I'm surprised he wants to leave so soon after he signed up to such a long deal in 2012 when the situation at the club was much more uncertain. I don't think it's down to Cummins, I hear that the players are fully behind the coach. It seems to me like Whitehead's been tapped up.

As for marquee signings we can't afford them. I thought that was obvious.

Williamson
Ambrum
Terry Pryce
Berwyn Jones
Johnny Rae
Stockwell
Diabeara
Wrigglesworth
Smales
Brooke
Roberts

Just to name a few.

Why don't I rate/Trust those in charge?I have this horrible feeling that they were born to fail and put offs like no marquee signings and the Elliot saga and Jay Willey pulling out, do nothing to change my view.It doesn't instill confidence,let's put it that way.Run correctly,with financials in place the Bulls franchise is worth a lot,at the moment,imo,that "WORTH" is being devalued.To what end,we shall see.

Lionel Williamson,George Ambrum,Terry Price, Berwyn Jones,Bak Diabara, Geoff Wrigglesworth and Ken Roberts were not playing for Northern when they re-formed in 1964. They came later when the club had got back on it`s feet and could afford to gamble.
If you are going to state facts to back up your argument make sure they are correct.

How many of those names signed in 1964? Price, Jones and Williamson didn't come until 1967 IIRC. Diabira came in 1966. Maybe time had clouded you memory. Perhaps we should give the club a year or two to get on it's feet before expecting marquee signings??

As for the current mob in charge. I'm not totally convinced by them either but it's too early to say for sure, especially given we're handicapped by the loss of the Sky money and we lost so many decent players at the end of 2012.

They were playing when I started watching Northern,so it can't have been that long after.So my point still stands.

hmmmm...

IMO,the current mob won't still be here in a year or two's time.

Let's see what unfolds though.

No it doesn't!

You said you wanted marquee signings this year. The first year after escaping oblivion.

When Northern re-formed in 64 they didn't make any marquee signings for at least 3 years afterwards.

By all means moan about it in 2015 but it's a bit harsh now.

Show me where I said I wanted Marquee signings now?

What about this?



You're saying that "no marquee signings" is a bad thing. You're also saying you won't part with any money until you see some!

I think after years of not getting told the whole story or not getting told the whole truth under the last regime it is nice to finally hear Cummins and co coming out and being honest with us. They only confirmed what most of us reasonable fans knew already 'No marquee signings next year'.

As for not announcing it as Cummins did, can you imagine the uproar if we were lead to believe we might make big signing next year.... lets all buy season tickets and merchandise and then get told at the start of next season erm actually no we cant afford it!

We haven't seen enough of OK yet to judge him but as others have said when he is the only show in town you either get behind him or move on

Or if he said we have signed so & so for next year, sell alot of ST's then say oh actually its fallen through when infact it never happened in the 1st place.

We dont need any marque signings we just need some hard grafters who can help us take that next step, maybe abit of pace also.

How does your point still stand? When Northern re-started in 64 the majority of the team were signed from other clubs who waived a transfer fee to help them out. The only player I remember costing any fee of consequence was Ian Brooke who Wakefield let us have at bargain price. Most of the names you quote came in 65,66 or 67. when the position financially was consolidated. As then the club needs to walk before it attempts to run.

Do you know of any club that's make an enquiry about Whitehead or is this agent driven do you think?

Please, please, please, I don't want to be a pedant but it's MARQUE not MARQUEE! A marquee is a large tent!
Thank you.

We once had a prop called Peter Goddard, he wore a large marquee!!! but what a ball player he was.

I once knew a fat bird who's dress size was a Mark F

It's a size bigger than a Marquee