AS this decade draws to a close, many of my favourite Bradford Bulls/Northern Memories happened in the last 10 years.

As it has been almost a week since we had a thread containing favourite/dream bulls teams, I thought we cvould start another one but restricted to the best players during the NOughties.

Here is mine:

Coach: Nobby

1. Withers
2. TV
3. Leon
4. Hape
5. Les
6. Henry Paul
7. Paul Deacon
8. Big Joe
9. Jimmy
10. Fielden
11. Peacock
12. Gartner
13. Forshaw

14. Hendo
15. Lynch
16. Burgess
17. Morrison

Not many from the last few years.. suprisingly

7. Deacon or Robbie - tough call.

1. Withers
2. Vaikona
3. Naylor
4. Hape
5. Vainikolo
6. H. Paul
7. R. Paul
8. Vagana
9. Lowes
10. McDermott
11. Gartner
12. Peacock
13. Mackay
SUBS
Burgess
Anderson
Fielden
Henderson

It's awful leaving Forshaw out, but rather that than an on form Peacock, Gartner, Mackay or Burgess. Also difficult leaving Lynch out, but if you're picking a 17, the awesome foursome would just have to be there for mine. Bringing Fielden and Anderson off the bench on 20 minutes was always just brilliant.

I'll probably think of others later and want to include them, but nevermind.

1. Spruce
2. Vaikona
3. Withers (he should really be FB but thought Sprogger deserved a place and Mick was quality everywhere)
4. Hape
5. Vainikolo
6. Henry Paul
7. Robbie Paul
8. Vagana
9. Lowes
10. Fielden
11. Peacock
12. Gartner
13. Mackay

14. Anderson
15. Pryce (L) although who on earth would pick Karl?
16. Menzies
17. Morrison

A couple of one season wonders (Menzies and Mackay) but I feel that they showed how good they were / are in that short period of time that they deserve a place.

Not bothered with another hooker as Jimmy played near on 80 mins every week.

1. Micheal Withers
2. Tevita Viakona
3. Scott Naylor
4. Shontayne Hape
5. Lesley Vianikolo
6. Henry Paul
7. Robbie Paul
8. Joe Vagana
9. James Lowes
10. Stuart Fielden
11. Jamie Peacock
12. Daniel Gartner
13. Mike Forshaw

14. Paul Deacon
15. Paul Anderson
16. Andy Lynch
17. Glenn Morrison

3 titles
2 CCs

Bradford's most successful decade, of the fourteen and a bit we've had since 1863, right?

There's certain positions in that team that just completely pick themselves.

If anyone picks a winger other than TV & Les, I'll be amazed and expect them to be sectioned. Similarly, Henry Paul, Shonny, Jimmy, Big Joe and Peacock surely won't miss out on anyone's team (except maybe those who sadly wouldn't pick JP just because he went to Leeds).

The part I find refreshing is that I'm leaving out quality players like Forshaw, Leon, Spruce, Menzies, Lynch & Deacon (among others). To pick a 17 and still have players of that quality missing out, says a lot about the teams we've had this last 10 years.

The part I don't like is that I didn't pick one current player in my 17. Lynch and Beaver were the only ones that got near to be honest. Not to say players we've currently got are no good, but there has either been better, or I haven't seen enough of them to decide yet (in the case of Orford for example). The current team really doesn't compare to the team of the early part of the decade.


Amazingly, I also haven't included McAvoy......

Withers
TV
Naylor
Hape
Vainiokolo
Henry Paul
Robbie Paul
Big Joe
Jimmy Lowes
Stuart Fielden
Jamie Peacock
Lee Gilmour
Mike Forshaw

So only one person picks Burgess?

I count two.

Withers
Vaikona
Leon Pryce
Hape
Vainikolo
Henry Paul
Robbie Paul
Vagana
Lowes
Fielden
Peacock
Gartner
Forshaw

Paul Anderson
Lynch
Henderson
Deacon

Withers
TV
Leon
Hape
Les
Henry Paul
Robbie Paul
Vagana
Jimmy
Fielden
Peacock
Gartner
Forshaw

Subs.

Paul Anderson
Burgess
Menzies
Henderson