[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-local-hero-with-a-golden-sidestep-ian-clayton-meets-paul-newlove-rugby-leagues-big-summer-signing-and-a-central-figure-for-britain-against-the-kiwis-1509720.htmlLocal hero with a golden side-step[/url

Sheer quality. the greatest cente ever in RL in my watching rugby, a joy and priveledge to see.
Am I just recalling halcyon days? Am I unfaily comparing him with today's super athletes?
You would have needed to have seen this guy play to appreciate his seemless blend of skills, power and pace.

Anyone remember the try he scored up the hill at Post Office Road from about 60 metres out?

Sheer class he was.

He was a good centre, but best in te world? Not a chance.
The guy simply would not apply himself, and he got the chance to shine in a dominant Saints side. He struggled at international level, he struggled so much that he practically gave up international rugby. There were a number of Australian centres that ate him up for skill and effort, Paul O'Loughlin was right up there alongside him for skill aswell, but he worked for the team alot more.

Never played well against Naylor. He had him well tied up.

If he had the same application as Senior he would have been the best in the word.

[iWipes monitor clean of recently-spat coffee.[/i

Without doubt, Newlove was the best player I've seen in a Bradford team in my 20ish years of watching the bulls and Northern.

best centre in the world?? For a time , perhaps yes, but not long. Got an injury at start of second season here and lost that bit of extra pace that made him really special.

If he had been in the environment that kids get now with the academy etc... he would have been even better. he came through in the semi pro days, that relied much more on natural ability and where overall fitness was less of an issue

.I cannot even comprehend that people believe Senior to be in the same class as him.
Yes, he was often quiet versus NAylor, but who wasnt?? having said that, if you offered me Naylor at his peak or Newlove at his peak, I would take Newlove every day and twice on a Sunday!!!!

You are Ancient Provocateur and I claim my five pounds.

Personally can't abide anybody that just walks out on a club.

Just walked out!!!!!

Wanted to leave because his mentor and agent had been sacked, and provided the club with a deal that enabled us to build the team that won the league in 1997 and be successful beyond that.

Saints had a good squad that needed on star to make them a success. we needed several good players to make a better squad. both clubs and Newlove benefitted. Yes it was a shame to see him go but Dwyer, Loughlin(who a previous poster implies was better than Newlove anyway) and Nickle, plus the cash to sign Lowes, McNamara and Spruce!!!!


crap deal on our side wasnt it!

Who believes that?

Mrs Senior?

Paul Loughlin was a good centre but he wasn't Paul Newlove. Check out the number of tries Lockers scored at Saints and Bradford in comparison with Newlove.

Newlove could score out of nothing. I remember some beauties versus Cas in 93 where he beat four players to go 50m+ That was against the likes of Blackmore, Nikau, Steadman and Kemp - no slouches back then.

Loughlin may have been a more reliable defender and more dependable for GB but at domestic level he had much less of an impact than Newlove.

You forgot the bit about wanted to leave and then refused to play until he left. It was a great deal for the club but you can't refuse to play for a club just because your friend gets sacked.

Newlove was the better player. Loughlin was the better centre in the classic mould. In fact, Loughlin in his Saints days was the best classic British centre I can remember seeing (my Rugby memory kicks in somewhat after Neil Fox's centre-playing heyday). Newlove had the strength, speed and step that allowed him to be a scorer rather than a provider. Loughlin was provider par excellence.

Loughlin was a good centre, he had all the physical talents necessary, but apart from his contribution in the infamous Sydney test of 1988 I have no recollection of his career. Newlove OTOH, was a genius who wasted his talents.

Hence my initial statement that Newlove was the better player. The distinction was between a classical exponent of the centre's art, and a freak of nature. In the same way, if you asked me to name a classic loose forward, it wouldn't be Ellery Hanley - but nevertheless he wore 13 and was better than anyone else who has done so in my recollection.

Loughlin was first choice GB centre in '92 but broke his arm early on in first test at Sydney. Not sure if that was the first time, but he did break it (I think) three times, which curtailed his career. Back in the day, Loughlin was a very good centre and deserved his GB caps and plaudits domestically.

By the time Newlove arrived, the game was six or seven years on and playing techniques and coaching tactics were evolving. Despite my Red Vee tinted specs, Newlove was without doubt a better centre than Loughlin, but Loughlin was still a great centre.

Already noted by others that the three players (Dwyer, Loughlin & Nickle) were instrumental in Bradford's resurgence.

I concur that Loughlin was a better provider, but when you were as good as Newlove, you scored yourself, not just putting your winger away. Just look at how good Jonathan Scales looked playing outside Lockers, then i 98 When He'd gone, Scales looked very average!

Both were different in style but very good quality players. however, if I was to pick the best british left centre from the 20 years i've been watching the game, it would be Newlove by a mile.

how did he waste his talents?

Think tigz is referring to Newlove's less than enthusiastic showings internationally and his reputed dislike of training.

You thunk correct.

Begs the question...

1: Did Newlove honestly think Bradford should have gone into Super League with Peter Fox rather than Brian Smith.
2: How good would he have been had he stayed, given the improvement that the likes of Brian Mac, Robbie etc showed.