Seeing as we have a plethora of ex-playing and coaching staff out there in the wide world of rugby league, nominate some candidates and then after a few days a top 5 or 10 should emerge.

What made me think of it was watching Wests Tigers annihilate the Warriors, and the fine performance of one Mark Flanagan. They of course signed Flanagan from Wigan, but when he played for England schoolboys he was a Bull, so he counts as an old boy, and it seems Tim Sheens must rate him highly - Sheens not being a bad judge.

Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Flanagan, Burgess & Solomona.

Could through Fielden in there too.

whats the criteria? are we sticking to bulls produced players or just players who have played for bradford?

if former then add peacock,fielden,pryce,deacon,parker,bridge,atkins,cook,ferres,burgess,k.pryce,patrick and moore off top of my head.

If latter then above plus gilmour,morrison,jeffries,johnson,solomona,radford for starters

on coaching side mcdermott,noble,potter,lowes,anderson

It was Bulls old boys doing well. Deacon can't be on that list, nor can Cook.

why not? there was some discussion of this when homegrown rule came in and bulls actually checked with RFL. As far as RFL are concerned deacon was classed as a bradford homegrown product despite him playing for oldham previously.
Dont see why matt cook wouldnt count either. we were his 1st rugby league club and he signed for us while still at school so he'd definitely count as an academy product too.

I meant the doing well part, not the home-grown part.

see what you mean



I was just trying to think of the ex players we have out there without saying anything about how well their doing.

This won't be a popular suggestion but it has to be Leon Pryce. He must have been given his own parking spot at old Trafford with his now annual appearance there both with us and Saints. Plus all those Challenge Cups.

Shontayne Hape is forging a decent career out for himself in Rugger as well. Making his England debut today.

Brad Meyers is still playing isn't he?

Adrian Morley. Played more games than Flanaghan anyway!

Ryan Hudson.......maybe not.

Yes looks well weird with his big ginger beard.

Yeh brad is still playing, last time I saw he was at gold coast with his jamie jone Buchanan beard.

Higham

If for arguments sake you leave out the Highams and Hudsons and only count those who have 1. actually played in a Bulls shirt and 2. are now playing for another pro league team then my (probably not comprehensive) list of candidates is:

Forwards: Adrian Morley, Chris Feather, Jamie Peacock, Matt James, Richard Moore, Stuart Fielden, Brad Meyers, Sam Burgess, David Solomona, Glenn Morrison, Brett Ferres, Larne Patrick, Lee Radford, Lee Gilmour, Matt Cook, Paul Johnson, Rob Parker, Simon Finnegan
Hookers: Ian Henderson
Halves: Ben Jeffries, Leon Pryce, Paul Deacon
Backs: Chris Bridge, James Evans, Ryan Atkins, Ben Harris, Tame Tupou, Karl Pryce

From the above then I'd have to say currently doing best are Burgess and Atkins

Surely Sam Burgess is doing the best

Peacocks got the most medals since leaving us so i`d probably say him..yes sam is only young and could go on to being one of our best exports to aus..but till he actually wins owt hes just doing good, but not the best.

Depends if the question is "which player has done the greatest things since leaving the Bulls?" or "Which ex-Bull is currently playing in the best form?"

What's interesting is the difference between the players who would always have been good/great if they'd stayed or gone e.g. Peacock and those players who for whatever reason only came on after leaving.

I suppose my thread title is a lot too restrictive, what I was trying to say is just what a wide effect on RL our old boys are having, whether or not we should have not (or could have not) let certain ones go is another discussion. But I would throw Brian Noble and Brian McDermott into the pot. Also there's Karl Harrison. Plus there are some good players lower than SL, for example Dominic Brambani, now at Dewsbury, a player in the Danny Brough mould.

What any would have done or achieved if staying at the Bulls must forever be unknown, but it's interesting to speculate. For example, I would reckon most would have agreed that we had no choice but to let Bridge go, and that us doing that was probably a pivotal moment in him sorting himself out.

Morley, bridge, solomona and atkins..... and if you dont believe me wait until this afternoon.....lol

Apart from being in the winning side, none of them were ripping it up were they?

Peacock's whole career record is immense.

League Champion in 6 of the 11 seasons he has been a pro, while playing in a further 3 Grand Finals, I think he's also played international games every winter since 2000. Throughout all that time he's been up there leading from the front, man of steel winner, GB/England captain without too many long injury lay-offs and no winters off.

For me JP has been the player of the Super League era - he was well on the way to that while at the Bulls and all he has achieved since are just cementing that.

Solomona is sooo fat now. Bloody hell, what they feeding him at Warrington?

That's why they take so long to form a scrum. The other players are used to Solomona taking a decade to waddle to the scrum so they wait around aswell.

In terms of coaching staff I forgot Paul Anderson, and Ivan Henjak

World class coaches/players currently working/playing at the top:
Brian Smith
Brian Noble
Saints coach
JP
Sam Burgess
Leon Pryce
Paul Deacon

There are numerous others, named earlier, who are no longer at their peak or still to reach it.
Bridge & Atkins demonstrate the weakness in our 3/4s, both decent palyers who would not get a look in in the NRL.