Karl Harrison appointed assistant coach at Bradford

Bradford have appointed former Super League coach Karl Harrison as James Lowes’ assistant.

Harrison, 50, has spent the past three seasons in charge of Halifax, winning the Northern Rail Cup in 2012, adding to the 2010 title he picked up while at Batley.

He previously guided Salford to their highest ever Super League finish of fifth back in 2006.

The former Great Britain and England international forward joins a new-look backroom staff at Odsal, which also includes John Bastian (head of youth), Matt Diskin (under 19s head coach) and Gary Dempsey (strength and conditioning coach).

Harrison said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me. Everybody within the game expects Bradford to be in the upper echelons of rugby league – and at the top end of the upper echelons of the sport.

“It is also a fantastic opportunity for me to work alongside Jimmy (Lowes) and try to get this great club back to where we think it belongs.

“There is a lot of hard work to be done and Jimmy has recruited a very big roster, which is something I am looking forward to working with.

“With a sizeable squad, you have always got people chomping at your heels and we need to create that competition for places, so everybody is playing to the best of their ability in the first 17.

“The challenge is to mould a team from this 30-man squad and there are a lot of new players, so there is a lot of graft to be put in between now and February.”

Lowes acted as ‘Rhino’s’ assistant during his time at Salford, where Harrison served as head coach for more than five years.

Now in the coaching hot seat himself, the three-time Super League champion and former Man of Steel has spoken of how he acted swiftly to secure Harrison’s “invaluable” services.

“I have known Karl for a number of years and am absolutely delighted to have him on board ahead of what is going to be a massive year for us,” added Lowes.

“He is very experienced – at both Super League and Championship level – and is an all-round great guy.

“When he became available, we moved very quickly to bring him in. He is the ideal man to assist me next season and I look forward to working with him.

“He has enjoyed success just about everywhere he has been and we intend to taste similar success next year.

“Karl completes something of a new-look coaching team for the club. I felt the need to freshen things up and I believe I have done so.

“Plenty of new faces have arrived, all of which boast impressive levels of experience and will add a great deal to what we are aiming to do here.”