Bull Masters - Paul Anderson
Castleford born Paul Anderson was the corner stone of the famous ‘awesome foursome'. Along with fellow Front Row Forwards, Brian McDermott, Stuart Fielden and, Joe Vagana , the four Props struck fear into the hearts of all opponents. Paul originally started his professional career at Leeds and, desperate for first team football, he ignored Headingley coach Doug Loughton's advice and headed for Thrum Hall to play for Halifax Blue Sox. Whilst there he played alongside Karl Harrison and with the GB Forward as his fellow Prop in an impressive Halifax team, the experience he gained proved vital.
His performances didn't go unnoticed by Bulls supremeo Matthew Elliott who promptly invited this ‘rough diamond' to move to Odsal in 1997. Paul did sign in time to play a major role in the Bulls Championship success, although missing out on Wembley. Due to serious knee injury, sustained in a pre season friendly, played after the Bulls had gone out of the Challenge Cup, Paul played only two games of the entire 1998 season but by the following spring he was ready and raring to unleash his near twenty stone, 6ft 2in body back into the Super League fray. Always willing to do the hard yards, this intimidating forward had an amazing turn of speed for a big man.
At the end of the domestic season Paul suffered another major disappointment after missing out on Wembley in 1997, he now had to suffer the frustration of losing a Grand Final in controversial circumstances. His disappointment was short lived however, as by now he was recognised as one of the most feared props in the British game and was regarded as an automatic selection for the Tour with the Great Britain Lions for the end of season Tri-Nation tournament ‘down-under'.
The following season Paul, like all the Bulls, started the season with a point to prove and by May the point had been proved by lifting the Challenge Cup at Murrayfield against local rivals Leeds. The Bradford club had proved without a doubt that they could match the best in a major final. By the season's end Paul was selected for England's World Cup squad which ended in a semi-final defeat against a Joe Vagana inspired New Zealand side. For the 2001 season his World Cup adversary Vagana had joined the Bulls as the final part of what was to become the ‘awesome foursome'
All the fans love to see a huge forward charging towards the line. His barnstorming performance against Warrington in the Challenge Cup semi-final that year was a fine example of that as well as a key factor in the clubs victory. However, he like all connected with the Bulls, Paul was to be bitterly disappointed with a dour Twickenham final defeat to St Helens. Normal service was resumed immediately after with the Bulls finishing top and going on to beat Wigan convincingly in the Old Trafford Grand Final. Paul was to play in another three Old Trafford deciders' before taking up a coaching position at Huddersfield.
2002 Saw Paul restricted to only 19 appearances all from the bench due to a broken arm but he was back the following year and in the 2003 Bulls Grand Slam campaign he hardly missed a game including vital roles in both the Challenge Cup and Grand Final successes. Who can forget his try at Odsal against the Rhinos when on a crushing run towards the try line he handed-off the luckless Leeds fullback Gary Connolly as if he was ‘swatting a fly' before scoring to the delight of the massed ranks of the Bradford supporters.
He was somewhat surprisingly released at the end of the 2004 campaign and was quickly snapped up by St Helens, where he enjoyed three more glory filled years before taking up a Coaching appointment at Huddersfield.
Paul Anderson was an integral part of the Bulls phenomenal success; winning three Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and, two Word Club Challenges and he would never shirk from doing the hard yards. Paul would never claim to be a natural try scorer but in his eight seasons with the Bulls he never failed to score at least one try. In 2000 he crossed the white wash eleven times. With the arrival of Joe Vagana 2001 there was always a healthy rivalry between the two giants as to who would score the most tries. That was obvious to all the Bulls supporters and added to their enjoyment as they wished first one, then the other over the line!!