Bull Masters - Graeme Bradley
Graeme Bradley joined the Bulls just in time for the short Centenary Season. Brian Smith, who had coached Bradley at St George, had no hesitation in bringing him back to England for a second time following a stint at Castleford. Smith’s decision was based as much on Bradley’s outstanding leadership qualities as his footballing ability.
The man nicknamed Penguin, for the uncomfortable looking way in which he ran, quickly established himself as a real favourite with the Odsal fans who, with the advent of Super League, were growing weekly.
The Bulls had a poor Centenary Season as Smith and his assistant, Matt Elliott, presided over the biggest turn around of players in the Club’s history. As they prepared to face favourites Leeds in the semi final of the Challenge Cup, Smith played a master stroke by playing Bradley, a centre, at stand off to intimidate and close down Graham Holroyd, the Leeds playmaker. The plan worked like a dream and the Bulls romped to their first Wembley appearance since 1973.
1997 though will be long remembered by all Bradford fans for the Super League Championship. The Bulls, with Matthew Elliott now at the helm, were simply unstoppable as they powered their way to success. Bradley was without doubt THE most influential player in the game that year. He was unlucky to be runner up to team mate James Lowes in the end of season Man of Steel awards but he had left an indelible mark on the Bulls success that season. Showing outstanding leadership qualities, although Robbie Paul was the captain, Bradley cajoled, bullied and forced the best out of his team as the Bulls went 22 games unbeaten to take the prize with ease. A Champion player in a Champion team.
Perhaps he should have retired while at the top for 1998 will not hold too many happy memories for him. A broken nose against Leeds, in the opening home encounter, severely disrupted his early season, while the Shaun Edwards factor undermined everything that had been the basis of the Bulls success the previous year. He fell foul of the game’s administrators, for a sometimes-controversial newspaper column, and referees and found himself in constant trouble throughout a difficult season. His sending off at St Helens, in what turned out to be the final game of a great career was as unjust as it was tragic. That he was found not guilty at a later date did nothing to ease the pain although the way he conducted himself in the post match press conference at Knowlsley Road earned him a lot of respect in journalistic circles.
But to feature too heavily on any negatives would be as unjust as his treatment that final year. His contribution to the Bulls cause is immeasurable. He was there when the Bulls struggled and he was one of the reasons that they raised triumphantly from that nadir. When they look back at the reasons for the Bulls success in 1997 Graeme Bradley’s name will be right there at the top of the list.