Francis Cummins saluted his players after the Bulls destroyed Dewsbury 48-6 in their opening pre-season friendly yesterday.

Elliott Whitehead scored four tries and produced a brilliant assist for debutant Matty Blythe, while Heath L’Estrange, Matt Diskin and Manase Manuokafoa were also on target.

New signings Blythe, Adam Sidlow and Jamie Foster, who kicked eight goals from as many attempts, all impressed while rookies Jobe Murphy, Sam Wood and Curtis Naughton made their senior bows.

Cummins – who reported no injury worries after the game – said: “It’s huge to have the 80 minutes under our belts.

“I knew that we had been training well but you can never tell until the team has played and we were pretty good.

“Elliott was very good and he can go where he wants as long as the middle men are working well, which they were throughout.

“It’s great to see the lads just getting game time and there are no real bumps or bruises either.”

Cummins, who admitted his men can expect a far sterner test at Leeds on Sunday, added: “One thing we are going to have to do is stick together. Strength in unity is something I keep harping on about, but it’s true because we simply haven’t got the numbers.”