Pretty bad news. Obviously we don't know how much of the improvement was down to him vs Pete Riding but never heard anything but good things about him.

Recon it will be Applegarth, who had a good reputation with Wakey Academy

Good shout!

I put Powell wanted Shenton at Wakefield on here a few weeks back so I guess the club have known for a little while that he was off so the search for his replacement will have already started . Big loss as others have already mentioned .

Just had a message. Could be something in this.

Applegarth would be a very strong appointment, given his track record.

Francis Cummins new academy coach.

What's his rep as a junior coach?

He's not a great first team coach, but neither was Applegarth and I would've been chuffed to get him

Certainly more experience that Shenton, has a vast amount of coaching at all levels in both codes.

Smith knows him very well too, as he has coached and worked with him. Runs his own coaching business too.

You never know but seems a good appointment if true.

It was a shame Shennie moved on, the academy structure looks in real good hands, with Pete Riding and Cummins in partnership if true it sounds a really good further investment of our youth programme.

It’s been done to death, but it’s unsustainable to keep buying players in, especially for clubs like ours, although excellent support base, we seem to be hamstrung because of rent etc at the stadium.

Personally I feel the numerous changes to personnel from players to coaches is all we could of wished for in one season, perhaps a weakness in the back row will be our Achilles heel, but overall considering the amount of work which needed doing as a supporter I’m pretty pleased with our present situation.

Our sucess in the 00s was built on developing youth like Cooke, Horne, King and Yeaman and then picking up some unknown gems like Raynor, Dowes and Mcmenemy. Unfortunately we cant add gold dust like Swain, Kearney and Smith anymore due to the gap between SL and NRL, but if we follow that model again we'd be in a much better place.

Cummins is a good bloke as well.
A few years ago my lad went for a trial for the academy at Bradford Bulls when Cummins was head coach.
Complete accident but my son copped a broken collarbone in first 5 minutes courtesy of a tackle from a current SL prop.
Cummins was not there but found out and got my number and rang me that night to ask how he was.
Think he’s a good appointment for you.

Very pleased with the appointment personally.

Initial thoughts were to hope that Applegarth would be given the job as wasn’t sure who else was out there.

But Cummins has an impressive cv and the experience to build on the great work Shenton did.

Onwards and upwards.

Never saw that one cummin , Hopefully he can kick on from where Shenton left off .

Must be a new Strength and conditioning coach started/coming in as Calum Christopherson is moving across the river.