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 for Sheffield 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.

And, this year, he was at it again when his Bradford team knocked Leeds out of the Challenge Cup.

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.

At the back

This year Bradford signed David Foggin-Johnston (wing) from Hunslet and he has already made a big impact. His career began with York in 2017 where he scored 16 tries in 19 matches and he moved to Hunslet for 2018.

Brandon Pickersgill (full back and occasional stand-off) has been a Bradford player since making his professional début in 2017, although he did have a loan spell with London Skolars in his first year.

Ethan Ryan (wing) is widely expected to be signed up by a Super League club next year. He has been with Bradford since his career began in 2016. Last year he scored 36 tries in 30 appearances and this year he has scored 11 tries in 17 games. He is an Irish international.

Jake Webster (centre) was Bradford’s most high profile signing for 2019, joining from Castleford. A New Zealander, he played for Melbourne Storm (2003-2006) and Gold Coast Titans (2007) in the NRL before joining Hull KR in 2008. He was there for 5 years and then signed for Castleford in 2013. He played one game for York on dual reg in 2014. He has played internationally for both New Zealand and Malta.

In the halves

Joe Keyes was a regular halfback for the Bulls last year but has not played so far in 2019 because of a back injury. His career began at London Broncos in 2014 and in 2016 he had a loan spell with London Skolars. He signed for Bradford in 2017. Art representative level he has played for the England Academy and for Ireland.

Jordan Lilley is at Bradford on loan from Leeds and looks as if he will be staying there all year. He made his début for Leeds in 2015 and has played for Hunslet (2015 - Dual Reg), Featherstone (2016 and 2018 - Dual Reg), Bradford (2017 and 2018 - loan) and Leigh (2018 - loan).

Rowan Milnes has been the Bulls regular stand-off recently after playing just 2 games for them in 2018.

At hooker

George Flanagan is a dangerous player particularly from dummy-half near the try line. His career started at Batley in 2009. He moved to Dewsbury in 2012 and returned to Batley in 2013. He spent 2014 at Fev and then signed for Hunslet in 2015. He joined Bradford shortly after the start of the 2018 season. In 2015 he played a couple of games on loan with Hemel Stags.

Sam Hallas is a product of the Leeds Rhinos Academy and made his début for Leeds in 2016. In 2017 he had a loan spell with Bradford which turned into a full signing. He is the cousin of former professional player Graeme Hallas and as an amateur he played for Stanningley alongside Jordan Lilley and Ashton Golding.

Matty Wildie (who also plays at half-back) began his career with Wakefield in 2010. Whilst at Wakefield he had loan spells with Batley (2012) and Doncaster (2013 and 2014). In 2016 he signed for Fev but because of injury he missed the whole of his first year. He joined Bradford for this season.

In the pack

Connor Farrell (second row) is another who was at Fev last year. He began with hometown club Wigan in 2010 where he remained until 2017. He had very few first team opportunities and played on loan for South Wales, Workington, Widnes, Swinton and Fev before signing for Fev. He is the younger brother of Wigan’s Liam Farrell.

Liam Kirk (prop) has become a regular starter. He made his début for Bradford (his only club) in 2016.

Elliott Minchella (second row or loose forward) is Bradford’s principal goal-kicker. He is very much a utility player having also played this year at stand-off and centre. He is another product of the Leeds Rhinos academy and made his professional début there in 2013. In 2015 he went on loan to London Broncos and then moved from Leeds to Sheffield Eagles in 2016. He is in his first season at Bradford.

Mikey Wood (loose forward) made his début with Halifax in 2015 (on loan from Huddersfield). He only played in the first team at Huddersfield twice but he was loaned out to Newcastle (2016), Oldham (2017) and Bradford (2018). He is now a Bradford contracted player.

Dual Registration and Loans

The Bulls do not have a dual registration agreement. Olsi Krasniqi was on loan from Toronto earlier in the season and Jordan Lilley (see above) is on loan from Leeds.

The Fev Connection

Transfers between Bradford and Featherstone have been fairly frequent in the past but currently Dane Chisholm is the only player in the Fev squad who has ever played for Bradford, although Cameron Smith who has played for Fev this year on dual reg played for Bradford on loan in 2017.

STOP PRESS: And now there is also Dale Ferguson who played for Bradford from 2014 to 2016!

But there are 8 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. Last month Bradford signed Colton Roche from Huddersfield. He was at Fev in 2016.