Cummins keen to join coaching staff at Widnes

INCOMING Widnes assistant-coach Francis Cummins has spoken about his rugby philosophy as he prepares to join the club for the 2018 season.

With current assistant Brett Hodgson leaving for a new job in his native Australia, Yorkshireman Cummins is returning to rugby league after a spell in rugby union. The former Leeds, England and Great Britain international is hoping to help the Vikings’ players fully express themselves out on the field.

He said: “I’ve always coached, even throughout my playing career. At a young age I was coaching young kids at my junior club.

“I think it’s all about seeing the potential in people and trying to help them fulfil it. In 2016, when the club had a fully-fit squad, they wanted to play. They used the ball well and it wasn’t about one-up runs. The team has had a difficult time with injuries this year, but when everyone is on the field you can see they want to play. That suits my philosophy.

“I think it would be very difficult to assist at a club where you don’t share the same philosophy. I like players to play and express themselves rather than saying ‘No, you’re not allowed to do that’. I see that in Widnes; when they are on top and playing, you can see that they aren’t one dimensional.”

Cummins has some vivid memories of the great Widnes sides of the past and wants to do everything he can to push the current set-up forward.

Along with the other coaches, he will be using the pre-season to make sure the players are in the best possible shape to face the challenges 2018 will bring.

He added: “I think back to my own childhood and Widnes had some real stars. My first coach was Dougie Laughton and I always think fondly of the club because of what he did for me. I played alongside Alan Tait, Richie Eyres, Harvey Howard, Mick O’Neill and Andy Gregory.

“Widnes is a great name in the game and you want to see them do well in the top flight, not just for what they have done in the past but what they are doing now in developing young players. “The town can be proud of its club. “Pre-season is the time when you can make your gains and you can really concentrate on the core stuff.

“It’s often basic things that you work on, but you focus on doing them very well. I’ve watched the team play from afar so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and seeing what the lads are about.

“We have to put the hours in to make sure next year is more successful than this one.”