Page 8 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PHOTOGRAPHY: TOM PEARSON

ROBBIE HUNTER-PAUL

end Robbie Hunter-P
adford Bull
h
e
s l
aul is in the
g
Br
Bradford Bulls legend Robbie Hunter-Paul is in the hotseat this month, revealing
why he pulled his boots on one last time, what went on behind the scenes at the
why he pulled his boots on one last time, what wen
Bulls and sharing his thoughts on a medal snub
Bulls and sharing his thoughts on a medal snub for Chewbacca in Star Wars…
Dale Ashbury: How special was it to play at Headingley in the Rob Burrow and JJB game?
D ale Ashbur y: H o w special w as it t o pla y at H e adingle y in t
It was special for so many different reasons. It was great to be ab
It was special for so many different reasons. It was great to be able to support a player who has had
20 incredible years with one club in Jamie Jones-Buchanan. And maybe more importantly, it was about
20 incredible years with one club in Jamie Jones-Buchanan. And m
being able to support Rob and his family as they face the gigantic c
being able to support Rob and his family as they face the gigantic challenge they have in front of them.
They were the motivating drivers and to be able to run out and be part of that was special for me.
They were the motivating drivers and to be able to run out and b
It was also great to be back in the changing rooms with the
It was also great to be back in the changing rooms with the Bulls players and it nearly brought a
tear to my eye to pull on the Bradford Bulls crest again.
tear to my eye to pull on the Bradford Bulls crest aga
It was probably easier for us out there than it
It was probably easier for us out there than it was for the people watching because
we were able to do something to release the
we were able to do something to release the emotion of the day. You could feel
the emotion building throughout the day
the emotion building throughout the day and the fact that 30 minutes after
the game had finished not a single person had left the ground.
the game had finished not a single pers
And to experience a Leeds v Bradfo
And to experience a Leeds v Bradford derby again at a packed house was
great. There were old scores to settle
great. There were old scores to settle, but the great thing about that day
was that there was just so much lov
was that there was just so much love out there.
Poppa Simon: Which season did you find most challenging,
Poppa Simon: Which season
and why?
and why?
Every season was a challenge, but 2005 was probably the
Every season was a challen
toughest year for me, and that included me making some tough
toughest year for me, and th
decisions.
decisions.
We had signed Ryan Hu
We had signed Ryan Hudson for that year, but then he got
handed a drugs ban and it meant I had to go into the hooking
handed a drugs ban and
role. I had never learnt how to play hooker and I'd said
role. I had never learn
to Nobby in 2004 th
to Nobby in 2004 that I didn't want to play there. But
when Ryan got his
when Ryan got his ban I was needed there and as a team
player I did it. Because Nobby knew I didn't really
player I did it. Be
want to be play
want to be playing there, part way through that
season we bro
season we brought in Ian Henderson. But by that
time Paul Deacon and Iestyn Harris had got into a
time Paul De
good groove in the halves so it was tough to find
good groove
a role for m
a role for me there.
Jon Sha
Jon Sharp at Huddersfield had been in touch
with the Bulls because I wasn't being used and
with the
they wan
they wanted to talk to me.
I had been at Bradford for 13 years and
I had
had be
had been a bit of a pin-up boy and all that
nonse
nonsense, so it was about much more than
a pla
a player moving clubs. There was a lot of
em
emotional weight behind it but Nobby
had his combinations and knew I
ha
w
wanted a challenge so that's when the
t talks started.
It was only when I went to
Huddersfield and played alongside
H
Br
Brad Drew that I learnt how to play
hooker. I was using up too much energy
hoo
defendin
defending, and I wasn't big enough to be an
out and out defensive player. But I was a good attacking player and that's
out and out defensive player. But I wa
why I was used in that role. But I do too much work all the time and I was
why I was used in that role. But I do to
trying to get involved in every tackle. Once he told me how I should be
trying to get involved in every tackle.
playing as a hooker it blew my game r
playing as a hooker it blew my game right open.
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