Page 33 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

BRADFORD BULLS

RLW PREDICTS: 9th

It wouldn’t be an off-season without some “I think we’ll be eight or nine in the budget
sort of Bradford Bulls crisis. table,” Kear said.
This one was no different. Pension “But I’m comfortable with that. I’ll tell you
payments, players attempting to terminate now, it’s more than I was spending at Batley!
their own contracts and a takeover headed It’s obviously not as much as London and
by the leading official in world Rugby League. Toulouse, but it’ll be in line with Halifax. It’s
In truth, this was perhaps more low-key affordable, and that means I can forget
than usual by Bradford’s own often chaotic about whether the players are getting paid,
standards but, having come through the are the bonuses going to be right, are the
off-season with new owners after the medical bills going to be paid. I can forget
heavily-criticised Andrew Chalmers moved all of that and the players can too and play
on after one bad story too many, the Bulls Rugby League.”
seem in a better position to move forward Ominously for the rest of the Championship,
off the pitch. Kear is the ultimate underdog king. This sort
On the pitch, that might prove a bit trickier. of situation suits him and suits his teams.
Bradford’s squad has been decimated in the “I’ve seen things in my players when we’ve
off-season with almost all of their senior trained and when we’ve played, and I sense
players leaving. they’re ready to have a really good season on
Ethan Ryan, Jake Webster, Elliot Minchella, the back of the fact there will be no issues in
Joe Keyes and Jy Hitchcox were among the background. I’m really quietly confidently
the hardest to stomach for the loyal Bulls we’ll do very well.”
faithful, with others, such as Ross Peltier, What that looks like at the end of the season
Matty Wildie and James Green not so far is more vague. The size of the Bulls brand will
behind. leave many expecting Bradford to be right up
Replacing that level of quality has proven there but others are wary that even for Kear
to be a struggle for head coach John Kear, that is a bridge too far given the turnover of
who has not only had to cope with losing a players and the increased quality elsewhere
squad he has built over the last two years in the competition.
but also try to replace them with a severely But if we’ve learnt anything about Bradford,
cut budget. it’s that you should never say never.
STAR PLAYER COACH 2020 SQUAD:

1 Brandon Pickersgill
2 Greg Johnson
4 Ross Oakes
5 Joe Brown
6 Rowan Milnes
7 Jordan Lilley
8 Anthony England
9 Thomas Doyle
In a much-changed squad boasting several 10 Steve Crossley
young players, Bradford will look-up to 11 Adam Rooks
captain Steve Crossley to lead them into 12 Connor Farrell
battle and stand up for the badge when
the going gets tough this season. From the outside looking in, John Kear has 13 Sam Hallas
A Bradford stalwart, Crossley isn’t the been the glue that has stopped Bradford 14 George Flanagan
flashiest player you’ll see but you’ll falling apart, the calming figure when 15 Liam Kirk
struggle to find one that has more passion everything else is chaos around him. 16 David Foggin-Johnston
and commitment to the cause. Finally, he appears to have some sort of 17 Levy Nzoungou
That’s exactly what Bradford will need this assurance and a steadied ship to navigate 18 Evan Hodgson
season as they come across packs that into 2020, and that won’t do him any harm. 20 Daniel Waite-Pullan
boast more size than the Bulls. Kear is Rugby League’s greatest ever
He’ll have a comrade in Anthony England underdog coach. He’s defied the odds 25 Cobi Green
with whom to go into battle, and the Bulls almost everywhere he has been. 26 Harry Shackleton
will be hoping the former Wakefield and That’s other than at Bradford, where so far 27 Sam Barlow
Warrington man can shrug off his niggling he has merely met expectations. 28 Bradley Gallagher
injuries this year and discover the form But with the Bulls set to be tipped for 29 Ebon Scurr
that saw him rack up 111 Super League a mediocre campaign, this is where he 30 Keelan Foster
appearances. comes to the fore.

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