Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith learned quickly at Bradford Bulls

The coaching pals come face-to-face at Headingley tomorrow when the Bulls play their second and final warm-up game against their old rivals.

Former Bulls chief Smith took the Leeds helm last April and steered them to the Grand Final in his first season.

“I’m not surprised at all,” said Dunning. “I worked with him for a short period and he’s a bit of a rugby geek like me.

“He lives and breathes it and is always thinking something rugby-wise.

“He’s an intelligent bloke and always looking at a different way to do things. He’s a great guy and good luck to him.”

Smith left the Bulls when the club went into liquidation in January 2017. He had served just seven months of a three-year deal but felt he “wasn’t compatible” with the owners Andrew Chalmers and Graham Lowe taking over.

He went home to Australia and coached the Norths Devils, the Brisbane Broncos’ affiliate club, to their first Queensland Cup success in two decades.

Dunning feels Smith, the son of legendary Bulls coach Brian, will have learned plenty during the darkest circumstances at Odsal.

He added: “It was a different environment back then, it was certainly different stability-wise. I’m sure it stood him in good stead.

“He went back to Australia and was very successful with the Norths Devils. They’ll have been a lot of contributing factors to Rohan Smith’s journey and I’m sure this was one of them.

“There’s a mutual respect and a friendship that’s been there since 2016. I’m sure it will stay for a long time.

“It’s always good to chat with him and have a coffee. There are other people at the club as well like Chev Walker and John Bastian.

“Rugby league is a small world and when you work with people closely you get to know them and become friends.

“It will be great to see them but be even better to see our boys out on the field expressing themselves and challenging a really good outfit in Leeds.”

Latest capture Josh Johnson comes straight into the Bulls squad but Dunning is still “erring on the side of caution” with the likes of Michael Lawrence and Jordan Baldwinson with the Championship kick-off against Whitehaven only a week away.

Dec Patton and Bodene Thompson are both ready to see their first action.

“Pre-season trials are not worth risking anybody,” he said. “The last thing we want is somebody to be a couple of days too soon and pull a hamstring or a calf and miss four to six weeks.

Rowan Milnes kicks during the Bulls' last game at Leeds in 2020 (Image: Tom Pearson)

“It’s the last trial game and we’re still looking at minor details of things we’ve been practising throughout pre-season.

“They were the second best team in the country last year and are littered with internationals and quality. It’s at a great venue and something we’re all excited about.

“We’re looking forward to seeing some old friends and, more importantly, how the players fare on the field.

“Our supporters travel in numbers, they are loud and proud and I’m sure it will be a great atmosphere.

“The western terrace will be packed full of our supporters and hopefully we can give them a glimpse of what the new Bradford Bulls look like.”