Bull Masters - Shontayne Hape
The former Junior Kiwi centre was signed from New Zealand Warriors for the 2003 season as Brian Noble's final piece of the complex ‘jig-saw' that is a champion team. On arriving at Odsal when asked what his goals were for 2003 he answered
"To play consistently well and win the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup."
Which is exactly what he did in his first season at Odsal!! He also managed to score fifteen tries along the way whist only missing one of the Bulls 35 matches, a remarkable debut season.
The following season saw his personal tally of tries rise to twenty-four which earned him selection for the Kiwis test side. While representing his country the Bradford centre proved his versatility by playing in the unfamiliar role of second row forward.
It didn't take long for him to form a partnership with winger Lesley Vainakolo which proved to be one of the most lethal in Super League history. Scoring between them 227 tries between 2003 and 2007 when Lesley departed for pastures new, Shontayne's class was phenomenal. He could read situations faster than this opponents, he knew when to come inside or go out wide, when to take the ball in, draw his man and set-up his winger or when to support a team mate. Combine these talents with his physical presence and a quick turn of pace and you have the complete centre. He was always on the lookout for scoring opportunities and not afraid to take them when offered. Of all his tries, the one best remembered is his four-pointer at Old Trafford in the 2003 Grand Final from a long pass from Paul Deacon which, for the first time in the match, put the Bulls a score in front of the Wigan Warriors before eventually finishing 27-12 victors.
The New Zealander played in three Grand Finals, winning two in 2003 and 2005 and he added to those triumphs with a Challenge Cup success 2003, and two World Club Championship victories. When considering that his appearances were limited due to injury, it's pretty good trophy haul!
Before Shontayne came to Bradford he'd recovered from a serious knee injury, the kind of set back many professional players have to persevere with at least once in a career. Sadly Shontayne had to suffer the same injury a further twice in his Odsal stay; becoming a veteran at rehabilitation. On both occasions he showed a tremendous amount of determination, courage and dedication to get back on the field with his team mates. The amount of time spent on the sidelines away from the action emphasise how much he did achieve whilst in the famous Bulls colours, making 136 appearances scoring 85 tries and setting up countless opportunities for others.
In 2007 the Bradford public recognised Shontayne's talent and contribution to the Bulls success by voting him into the Team of the Century, playing centre alongside the legendary Ernest Ward of the great 1940's side. One thing that wasn't decided by that poll was who should carry the title ‘Prince of Centers' a label picked up by Ernest from the post war media to describe his class. Several of the clubs senior supporters who are able to compare the two maestros generally refuse to state which player should carry that mantle, so I suppose we should carry on referring Shontayne by his expensive moniker ‘Champaign'.
During the 2008 campaign Shontayne decided it was time to move on so playing his last match against Hull Kingston Rovers in the June sunshine at Odsal he signed off in an fitting manner, with a try in a 40-20 win before switching codes and joining Bath.
Shonny was a key member of the Bulls success in his time at the club and the memories of him will always be at Odsal.
Martin Bass