T’Other Side: Bradford Bulls

T’Other Side: Bradford Bulls

2019 MATCHES

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: John Kear

John Kear is probably the most experienced head coach in this country. His career began at Bramley in 1992 and since then he has held the position at Paris Saint Germain (1995-96), Sheffield Eagles (1997-99), Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants (2000), Hull FC (2005-06), Wakefield Trinity (2006-11), Batley Bulldogs (2011-16) and Bradford Bulls from 2018. And on the international scene he has also been head coach to France, England, Great Britain and Wales (where he has led them to qualification for the 2021 World Cup).

Two matches in his coaching career really stand out in the memory. The first, of course, has to be the shock Challenge Cup win over Wigan at Wembley in 1998. The most dramatic came in 2006. He took over at Wakefield who looked completely doomed to relegation but he led them to four wins in their last 6 matches ending with a shock win over Castleford in the last match resulting in escape from relegation at the expense of Castleford.

That was somewhat ironical because John Kear’s entire playing career was at Castleford, mainly as a winger, from 1978 to 1988.

Captain: Steve Crossley

Steve Crossley has been appointed as Bradford captain for 2019. His first grade career began with hometown club Bradford Bulls in 2010 with 7 off the bench appearances. During the following year he played for Dewsbury Rams on dual reg as well as making further appearances for the Bulls. In 2012 he signed for Dewsbury and moved onto Fev for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In 2015 he signed for Castleford but in April transferred back to Bradford. He spent the 2017 season with Toronto and then for 2018 yet again (for the 4th time!) came back to the Bulls. He is an out and out prop forward, every one of his 121 career appearances in the starting line-up having been at prop. Including sub appearances he has played 195 games so will probably make it to 200 this year.

New signings for 2019

After promotion last season from League One, John Kear has made 10 new signings to his squad. Two of those (Jordan Lilley and Jy Hitchcox did play on-loan for the Bulls last year).

Dual Registration and Loans

Bradford do not have a dual registration agreement and they only have one loan signing. That is Olsi Krasniqi who is on loan from Toronto. That is very significant. Because Toronto are not taking part in the Challenge Cup Bradford are free to play Krasniqi because Toronto will have no concern about him becoming cup-tied.

The Fev Connection

Transfers between Bradford and Featherstone have been fairly frequent in the past but currently there are no players in the Fev squad who have ever played for Bradford, although Cameron Smith who has played for Fev this year on dual reg played for Bradford on loan in 2017.

But there are 7 members of the current Bradford squad who have worn the Featherstone shirt. Connor Farrell and Matty Wildie were regular members of the Rovers team last year. Steve Crossley was a stand-out player who made 51 appearances for Fev in 2013 and 2014. George Flanagan was also a Rovers player in 2014. It was Fev who brought Jy Hitchcox over from Australia in 2015. Despite scoring two hat tricks he never got the chance to establish himself as a first team regular and he moved on to Castleford in 2016. James Green made 3 appearances in 2013 during a loan spell from Hull Kingston Rovers and Jordan Lilley played for Fev on dual reg in 2016 and 2018.