BULLS winger David Foggin-Johnston is flowing with confidence after four tries in his last three games, admitting it was disheartening to be dropped for what he felt was no reason earlier this season.

While insisting there was no bad blood between himself and former head coach Mark Dunning, Foggin-Johnston admits interim head coach Lee Greenwood and club advisor Brian Noble have given him the shot in the arm he needed.

The candid 26-year-old told the T&A: “It’s been massively rewarding to have Greeny and Brian bet on me, that’s all you want from a coach.

“When you sign for a club, and the coach tells you he wants you, but then you get dropped or thrown aside for dual-registration, it’s disheartening.

“Lee and Brian gave me an opportunity when they took over three games ago and I feel I’ve taken that with both hands and proven myself.”

One of the more controversial decisions Dunning made before his departure last month was to play young Leeds talent Luis Roberts in place of Foggin-Johnston for the derby with Keighley at Cougar Park in March.

Bulls were embarrassed 34-6 on the day, with Roberts struggling badly, and Dunning admitted afterwards he may have got his selection wrong.

Reflecting on that, Foggin-Johnston said: “It’s not to talk anyone down, but it’s not easy for some of those young lads coming down from Super League to the Championship.

“It’s a physical league and you have to perform every week.

“I’m team-first, so I don’t mind being dropped if I’m playing poorly or the dual-registration lad is doing better than me.

“I thought (Leeds winger) Liam Tindall was class for us earlier in the season for example.

“But it was a tough pill to swallow missing out on that Keighley game, as I live in Bradford, and when I signed for the club it was because I wanted to play for them.

“I just felt like that game should have been a proper Bradford (with permanent players) versus Keighley derby, like it was at the Summer Bash the other week.

“Any derby, like against Cougars or Halifax, is a game you particularly want to be starting.”

Discussing his confidence returning, Foggin-Johnston said: “I have to give some credit to Mark, because I worked hard in pre-season and he promised me the number five shirt in return, which I got.

“But that felt bittersweet when I was getting dropped for dual-registration players all the time.

“Rugby is a confidence game, and mine was getting constantly knocked, as it affects you when you’re getting dropped for what feels like no reason.

“I’d be nervous when I was on the pitch, because I feared I’d be dropped if I made any mistakes.”

But things are looking up for Foggin-Johnston under Greenwood and Noble, with Bulls aiming for a fourth straight Betfred Championship win on Sunday, when they host fellow in-form side London Broncos at Odsal.

The winger said: “I’m starting to believe again under Lee and Brian, and that if I see that gap in the corner, I can dive for it.

“You have to take those opportunities as you don’t get many of them during a game.

“I know I have to keep earning the right to start and maybe I can even earn myself a new deal at the end of the year.

“You can just see the added intensity now under Lee and Brian, and how we’re breaking down processes, rather than doing a drill and wondering why.

“Over the last few weeks it’s felt like a different team in training.”