Mark Dunning on how Bradford Bulls helped develop one of Super League’s best coaches
Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls Betfred Championship 06/06/2022. Mark Dunning during the Betfred Championship match between Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Bulls at the Millennium Stadium, Featherstone, United Kingdom on 6 June 2022. Featherstone The Millenium Stadium West Yorkshire United Kingdom Editorial use only PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK , Copyright: xTomxPearsonx PSI-15395-0028
Today Mark Dunning and Rohan Smith butt heads in what was once the biggest game in Super League as Leeds Rhinos host Bradford Bulls in a pre-season friendly.
Dunning is very excited by the prospect as well as seeing his old friends:
“They were the second best team in the country last year. They’re littered with internationals and quality. It is at a great venue, yes it is a pre-season trial but it’s also Leeds vs Bradford so we’re looking forward to it, looking forward to seeing a few old friends but more importantly how we take to the field.”
One of those is of course Rohan Smith who coached the Bulls back in 2016.
On Smith, Dunning said: “Yeah there is a mutual respect and a respect that has been there since 2016 and we’ll stay for a long time, I’m sure. It is always good to catch up with him.
“There’s others at the club as well, Chev Walker for instance. Jarrod O’Connor text me the other day to say it will be good to catch up.”
Dunning also explained how the Bulls played a role in the development of Smithj:
“It was a different environment back then and different stability then. He then went over to Australia with the Norths Devils and was successful there.
“There will have been a lot of contributing factors to his success but Bradford was one of them.
“I’m not surprised by the success he has had. He’s a but of a rugby geek. He lives and breathes it and is always thinking about rugby, he’s intelligent and always looking for a different way to do something.”