Bradford Bulls Super League History

The Super League era - 1996leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 In April 1995, the Rugby League announced the formation of the European Super League. The Super League consisted of 10 clubs from the existing First Division (including Bradford Bulls) plus London Broncos from the Second Division, and new club Paris St Germain.

Name Change and start of the BullsThe club's name was changed from Bradford Northern to Bradford Bulls and a new logo was adopted. Australian Brian Smith was appointed coach and later Chief Executive. Bradford lost the 1996 Challenge Cup final 40-32 to St Helens, Robbie Paul became the first player to score a hat-trck in the final, a performance that won him the Lance Todd Trophy. Robbie also won the Super League Player of the Year.

In September 1996, Brian Smith decided to return to Australia as coach of Parramatta Eels and assistant coach Matthew Elliot took over. Bradford Bulls finished the season as the best supported team in Super League with an average attendance in excess of 10,000.

Champions-1997leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 Bradford won the 1997 Super League title with a record run of 20 successive victories from the start of the season. The Bulls were also Challenge Cup runners-up for a second season, losing 32-22 to St Helens. James Lowes was the Super League Player of the Season while Matthew Elliot was chosen as Super League Coach of the Season. Bradford was once again the best supported club, with an average of over 15,000.

On the Road - 1998leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 In 1998, as part of rugby league's "on the road" scheme the Bradford Bulls played London Broncos at Tynecastle in Edinburgh in front of over 7,000 fans. 1998 was a disappointing season for Bradford, finishing fifth in Super League. The Bulls remained the best-supported club, however, with an average attendance in excess of 13,000. Leon Pryce beat Keith Mumby's record in becoming the youngest player ever to appear for the club.

So Close - 1999leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 In 1999 Bradford signed New Zealand international Henry Paul from Wigan Warriors who linked up with brother Robbie Paul for the first time at professional club level. The club achieved record season ticket sales, and set a new scoring record as the Bulls thrashed Workington Town 92-0 in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup at Odsal. The Bulls won a Minor Premiership in Super League IV; staying undefeated at Odsal. The final home game saw the Bulls smash the Super League attendance record with 24,020 fans watching the 19-18 defeat of Leeds Rhinos. A rugby league record 50,717 fans at Old Trafford saw the Bulls controversially lose the 1999 Super League Grand Final 8-6 to St Helens. Henry Paul won the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match.

The Millennium

Flower Of Scotland - 2000leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 The Bulls won the 2000 Challenge Cup with a 24-18 against local rivals Leeds Rhinos at the Scottish Rugby Union's Murrayfield Stadium, the first time that the final had been held in Scotland. Henry Paul won the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.

Glory Days-2001leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 Brian Noble was appointed Bradford head coach in 2001 and the club took up residence at Valley Parade, the home of Bradford City AFC, to allow for the redevelopment of Odsal Stadium. Reaching the Challenge Cup final, held at Twickenham, the team suffered a 13-6 defeat to St Helens. On 3rd May, in a home match against Warrington, Henry Paul set a new World Record for consecutive goal kicks (35). The Bulls finished the regular season as Minor Premiers and on 13th October at Old Trafford, a new Super League Grand Final record attendance of 60,164 turned up and the Bulls crushed Wigan Warriors 37-6 to claim the title. Michael Withers scored a hat-trick of tries and was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy as Man of the Match.

World beaters- 2002leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 The Bulls were crowned World Club Champions on 1st February 2002 after defeating Australian Premiers Newcastle Knights 41-26 in front of a crowd of 21,113 at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium. James Lowes was named as Man of the Match and Paul Deacon kicked eight goals from nine attempts plus a drop goal for a total of 17 points in the match, an individual scoring record for this competition. Bradford again controversially lost the Super League Grand Final to St Helens this time losing 19-18 in the last minute of the game.

Tre-BULL Champions -2003leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 The first match played following the clubs' return to Odsal was against Yorkshire rivals Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Sunday 9th March 2003 and attracted an attendance of 20,283. Bradford Bulls won the game 22-10. Bradford Bulls became the first club to win the Challenge Cup and Super League Grand Final in the same season in 2003. The team travelled to Cardiff to beat the Leeds Rhinos at the Millennium Stadium 22-20 in front of 71,212 fans, then went on to lift the League Leaders Shield for finishing top of the Super League after 28 rounds, before defeating Leeds Rhinos again, for the fifth time in the season, in the Qualifying Semi Final play-off to reach the Tetley's Rugby Super League Grand Final. The Bulls claimed the Super League title with victory over Wigan Warriors before a record, sell-out crowd of 65,537 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

World Champions - 2004leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 Bradford Bulls regained the World Club Challenge in 2004 by beating the NRL champions Penrith Panthers 22–4 at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield. They also beat Leeds Rhinos in the play-offs to reach the Grand Final, only to meet their arch-rivals two weeks later at Old Trafford in front of a record grand final crowd of 67,000. This time Bradford were beaten by Leeds 16–8. 2004 was also a superb year for the ‘The Volcano’ Lesley Vainikolo as he smashed the Super League try scoring record with a total of 37 tries from 26 appearances. This achievement started in the first round of the regular Super League season as he crossed the try line on five separate occasions against Wigan Warriors to equal the record for the total number of tries in a Super League game.

History Makers - 2005leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 After a difficult start to the 2005 season, The Bulls went on a 12 match unbeaten run and managed to win the Super League title from third place by beating Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.

New Era - 2006leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 The Bulls started the 2006 season by beating Wests Tigers 30-10 in the World Club Challenge Match at the Galpharm Stadium. This was their third such win in four years. Coach Brian Noble left Bradford to coach relegation threatened Wigan Warriors on 20th April 2006, Steve McNamara took over as head coach. Stuart Fielden followed Noble, moving to Wigan for a record fee of £450,000. McNamara's finest hour so far may have been the 20-18 defeat of St Helens at Odsal in June, which proved to be Fielden's last match for the Bulls. Bradford Bulls didn't reach the Grand Final for the 1st time in 6 years, going out to Hull FC in the Final Eliminator

=Centenary Season-2007=

leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 In 2007, Bradford Northern/Bulls are celebrating the centenary of the club, it being 100 years since the formation of Bradford Northern.Their Carnegie Challenge Cup campaign began with a home tie against National League side Castleford Tigers in the 4th Round. After a tense match the Bulls ran out 24-16 winners. Bradford now faced a trip to Belle Vue to face fellow Super League club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the 5th Round.On the 30th April 2007 Steve McNamara was appointed Great Britain assistant coach to Tony Smith

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May 2007On the 6th May 2007, Bradford Bulls were involved in a controversial situation. During the Millennium Magic weekend, two decisions from referee Steve Ganson which gave the game in the dying seconds to the Leeds Rhinos who won 38-42. After the Match Steve Ganson admitted having made mistakes, which lead to a call from Bradford Bulls Chairman Peter Hood for the points to be awarded to Bradford Bulls. In May 2007 one of the greatest wingers to play for the Bulls Lesley Vainikolo joined Gloucester RFC, Bulls signed 24-year-old Tame Tupou from 2006 NRL champions Brisbane Broncos as Les's replacement.

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June & JulyThe Bulls faced a tough schedule in June and July, they beat Hull F.C. 34-8 in round 17, then went onto beat Leeds Rhinos 38-14 which was Lesley Vainikolos last game with the Bulls, then in round 19 they played Wigan Warriors at JJB score was 25-18 to Wigan and then the Bulls went to beat St Helens 10-4 in round 20 at Grattan Stadium. These games went along way to proving whether they have the things to become champions at the end of the season. The Bulls were docked two Super League competition points when an independent panel found that the Bradford Bulls club had breached the Salary Cap by four per cent. The points deduction takes immediate effect and applies to the 2007 season and therefore the current engage Super League competition table. The Bulls reached the semi of Challenge cup in July 2007 but were defeated by St Helens.

leagueicon|Bradford|size=20 August

To celebrate there Centenary Season T & A Bradford's local paper are commissioning a team of the century (see below for details). Bradford Bulls will play Leeds Rhinos in an all star match of touch rugby, Deryk Fox, Karl Fairbank, James Lowes etc will turn out for the Bulls while the likes of Gary Schofield, Lee Crookes and Dave Heron etc will turn out for the Rhinos, the game will be played before Round 25 game between Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos

There was a team of the Century team announced in August 2007.