Bull Masters - Henry Paul
Henry's move to Bradford from Wigan for the start of the 1999 season was one of the worst kept secrets in Rugby League. The Bulls fans were looking forward with glee to seeing him linking up with younger brother Robbie and to seeing his vast array of skills in the Red, Amber and, Black. Such was the excitement generated by his arrival the club broke all previous season ticket sales at Odsal.
It didn't take Henry long to prove why the Odsalites were anticipating his signing for the Bulls. He became an instant success, partnering his brother Robbie in the half backs and was blessed with all the attributes required by top class modern day players, he had in abundance. Silky handling skills, speed, tactical awareness, tackling ability, kicking from hand and, goal kicking, he had the lot. His arrival at Bradford re-ignited the Bulls after a disappointing season in 1998. In his first season with the club the Bulls clinched the ‘Minor Premiership' with a dramatic 19-18 victory over Leeds in the final home game of the season in front of a Super League record attendance of 24,020. Sadly Henry's dream of a second Super League ring faded as the Bulls lost in the grand final to Saints. This disappointment spurred him, and the team, on to win the Challenge Cup at Murrayfield the following season with, the irresistible Henry picking up the Lance Todd Trophy as Man of the Match.
For the 2001 season Henry broke the points in a season record scoring a staggering 457 points including 206 goals and five drop goals and he created a world record of 35 consecutive goal kicks in an eight match sequence between 1st April and 2nd May. The Bulls, after losing the Challenge Cup final to Saints, went on to finish ‘Minor Premiers' before hammering his old club Wigan in the grand final 37-6. Henry's stint in Bradford's famous colours was only three years yet in that short period he, scored an astonishing 1628 points. His goal kicking record of 576 successful kicks took him to fourth in the all time goal kicking records of the club.
Henry was to leave the Bulls immediately after the Grand Final at the end of the 2001 campaign, accepting a lucrative offer from Gloucester rugby union club which also earned the Kiwi, England international honours! He returned to Super League playing loose forward for Harlequins before switching back to union with Leeds Carnige.
Henry's first visit to Britain was won the Junior Kiwi's tour of 1993 together with a host of other future New Zealand internationals. His talents didn't go unnoticed as first Wakefield signed him for the remainder of that season, then Wigan brokered a deal with Auckland Warriors that would see him leave New Zealand and his studies as a trainee teacher, his mother also teaches, to play for the Central Park club. While at Wigan he picked-up ever domestic honour available and became a regular Kiwi international. While winning those trophies Henry developed the ‘strange' superstition of sleeping with the silver ware. This he did with ever trophy his sides won!
His outstanding career is even more amazing when we consider that while still a child he nearly died three times. The first through illness, as a three year old he suffered from bronchial pneumonia then, he managed to remarkably survive two motor accidents. While cycling he was hit by cars and, on each extraordinary occasion bounced over the bonnet onto the roof. In both incidents escaping with only cuts and bruises while his bike was a right-off. This schooling of hard knocks may have led Henry to always appear ice cool under pressure from opposing players. Thankfully he chose rugby as a career rather than cycling!!
by Martin Bass