Diskin hopes Leeds connection can boost Bulls

Bradford hooker Matt Diskin hopes that he and former Leeds teammate Francis Cummins can help kick-start a new era at Odsal.

Diskin, 30, joined the Bulls from their local rivals back in 2011, and played alongside Cummins and Chev Walker for Leeds when they beat Bradford 16-8 in the 2004 Super League Grand Final.

Walker this week became Cummins’ first signing as new boss, signing a one-year deal to remain at the club.

Diskin told the club’s official website: “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.

“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.”

Diskin, who won the Harry Sunderland award for man of the match in the 2004 Grand Final, played 262 times for Leeds before switching to the Bulls, where he has scored nine tries in 45 appearances.

Cummins has spent the past two years as assistant coach to Mick Potter, taking the reins as head coach following the Australian’s departure at the end of the season.