KURT HAGGERTY has vowed to adopt an exciting brand of rugby league as Bradford Bulls head coach, despite claims that the Odsal pitch is too small to do so.
The Bulls have notoriety in the past for having a smaller pitch than their rivals due to a stock car racing track around the outside of the grass.
And though that has hindered visiting sides in the past, Haggerty knows he has to get things right in terms of all of his players knowing their roles and executing them down to the fine margins.
“The narrative I’ve been sold since I took the job is that I can’t play my style of rugby at Odsal and that’s really good for me and we’ve spoken about that as a group,” Haggerty said.
“What becomes really important is the detail in how we play. If the detail isn’t on point in how I want us to play, it could look really messy.
“The intensity that we apply within is really important too in terms of breaking down teams at Odsal.”
So what style of play does Haggerty want to see?
“I’ve spoken openly about our style of play. We will play rugby, I’m not a five drives and a kick type of coach. I never have been and never will be – it’s what I believe in.
“We will certainly move the ball and I’d like to think we will put a brand on the field that Bradford Bulls fans will enjoy watching.”
Haggerty also explained why such a plethora of Salford players also making the move to Odsal has helped in terms of embedding a style of play early on.
“What I’ve found is that the lads have bought into the new style of play, into playing with their eyes up and more instinctively.
“That has really surprised me because it sometimes takes such a process to practice and buy into it.
“Bringing in some of the Salford players over with me has helped. I’ve almost had another set of coaches on the field which has really helped that style, particularly defensively.”