1998 Bradford Bulls season

This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 1998 season, the 3rd season of the Super League era.

1998 Bradford Bulls season
Super League III Rank5th
Play-off resultElimination Play-off
Challenge Cup5th Round
1998 recordWins: 13; draws: 0; losses: 13
Points scoredFor: 591; against: 540
Team information
ChairmanChris Caisley
Head CoachMatthew Elliot
Captain
StadiumOdsal Stadium
Avg. attendance13,026
High attendance19,188 vs. Leeds Rhinos
Top scorers
TriesTevita Vaikona (13)
GoalsSteve McNamara (81)
PointsSteve McNamara (170)
< 1997 List of seasons 1999 >

Season review

February 1998

The 1998 season started off with a 48–10 win over Rochdale Hornets in the Challenge Cup 4th Round, it was in this game that Wigan Warriors legend Shaun Edwards made his try scoring debut with the Bulls. However soon they were knocked out of the Cup for the 1st time before the final since the Super League started. It was Castleford Tigers who scored late in the game to beat Bradford 26–21.

April 1998

Bradford started off their league hopes with a 38–6 win against newly promoted Huddersfield Giants. However they were brought down to earth when they lost 26–6 to arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos after a sublime display from fullback Iestyn Harris. Bradford were soon back winning points as they ground out a hard-fought 11–4 win against Sheffield Eagles. The Bulls managed to get their 1st back to back wins of the season as they struggled against Hull Sharks but just about scraped a 26–24 win.

May 1998

The Bulls won their next game 18–4 against St. Helens however the week after Halifax Blue Sox beat Bradford 21–16 in a thrilling encounter. Bradford bounced back though by stuffing Castleford Tigers 52–10 and then dispatched of London Broncos 17–14.

June 1998

June started off poor for the Bulls as they lost 28–10 to Warrington Wolves after Graeme Bradley was sent off. Bradford also lost to eventual champions Wigan Warriors 28–12. The Bulls bad run continued with a shock 11–10 loss to Salford City Reds with Paul Medley scoring Bradford's only try. Bradford got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 36–10 victory over Huddersfield Giants.

July 1998

Bradford got off to a great start in July as they beat arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos 33–22 at Headingley. The Bulls travelled to Tynecastle Stadium to play London Broncos in an attempt to spread rugby league into Scotland, the Bulls lost to London 22–8 with ex Bulls player Shaun Edwards pulling the strings for the Broncos.

August 1998

Sheffield Eagles added to the Bulls misery when they beat Bradford 38–18 to kick off August, however it wasn't long before the Bulls won again as they beat Hull Sharks 38–18 with Tevita Vaikona scoring 2 tries against his former side. Bradford were brought back to earth with a 33–25 defeat at St. Helens, a late Tommy Martyn try and a Sean Long drop goal won it for the Saints. Halifax Blue Sox continued their fine run of form by beating the Bulls 25–12 at The Shay. The final game in August saw the Bulls beat Castleford Tigers 24–8 to get back to winning ways.

September 1998

The month didn't start well for Bradford as they received a 34–8 hammering by London Broncos. The Bulls responded to this defeat by beating Warrington Wolves 36–8 at Odsal Stadium. The final two games saw contrasting results, the 1st saw the Bulls get hammered by Wigan Warriors 38–4 and the 2nd saw them destroy Salford City Reds 40–18 in the final league game of the year.

October 1998

The Bulls crashed out of the playoffs when they lost 46–24 to St. Helens at Knowsley Road.

1998 milestones

Table
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Wigan Warriors 232102762222+54042
2 Leeds Rhinos 231904662369+29338
3 Halifax Blue Sox 231805658390+26836
4 St. Helens 231418673459+21429
5 Bradford Bulls 2312011498450+4824
6 Castleford Tigers 2310112446522−7621
7London Broncos 2310013415476−6120
8 Sheffield Eagles 238213495541−4618
9 Hull Sharks 238015421574−15316
10 Warrington Wolves 237115411645−23415
11 Salford City Reds 236116319575−25613
12 Huddersfield Giants 232021288825−5374
Play-offs

1998 fixtures and results
LEGEND
  Win
  Draw
  Loss

1998 JJB Sports Super League

DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt
3 April 1998Super League III1Huddersfield GiantsAMcAlpine StadiumW38–6Vaikona (2), Bradley, Edwards, Forshaw, Peacock, SpruceMcNamara 5/712,417
12 April 1998Super League III2Leeds RhinosHOdsal StadiumL6–26CallandMcNamara 1/219,188
17 April 1998Super League III3Sheffield EaglesADon Valley StadiumW11–4Edwards, SpruceMcNamara 1/2, Graham 1 DG6,200
26 April 1998Super League III4Hull SharksAThe BoulevardW26–24Calland (2), Peacock (2), VaikonaMcNamara 3/59,447
10 May 1998Super League III5St. HelensHOdsal StadiumW18–4Lowes, McDermott, VaikonaMcNamara 3/314,091
17 May 1998Super League III6Halifax Blue SoxHOdsal StadiumL16–21Paul (2), VaikonaMcNamara 2/316,337
22 May 1998Super League III7Castleford TigersAThe JungleW52–10Paul (3), Edwards (2), McDermott (2), Donougher, Peacock, VaikonaMcNamara 6/108,043
29 May 1998Super League III8London BroncosHOdsal StadiumW17–14Bradley, Lowes, McDermottMcNamara 2/3, McNamara 1 DG11,893
7 June 1998Super League III9Warrington WolvesAWilderspool StadiumL10–28Calland, VaikonaMcNamara 1/26,054
12 June 1998Super League III10Wigan WarriorsHOdsal StadiumL12–28McDermott, VaikonaMcNamara 2/214,103
21 June 1998Super League III11Salford City RedsAThe WillowsL10–11MedleyMcNamara 3/36,319
28 June 1998Super League III12Huddersfield GiantsHOdsal StadiumW36–10Bradley (2), Deacon, Forshaw, Lowes, SpruceMcNamara 5/5, Deacon 1/112,024
3 July 1998Super League III13Leeds RhinosAHeadingley StadiumW33–22Forshaw (2), Calland, Paul, ScalesMcNamara 6/6, McNamara 1 DG16,824
18 July 1998Super League III14London BroncosNTynecastle StadiumL8–22Bradley, ScalesMcNamara 0/26,863
2 August 1998Super League III15Sheffield EaglesHOdsal StadiumL18–38Bradley (2), LowesMcNamara 3/311,493
9 August 1998Super League III16Hull SharksHOdsal StadiumW38–18Vaikona (2), Forshaw, McAvoy, Paul, ScalesMcNamara 7/711,294
16 August 1998Super League III17St. HelensAKnowsley RoadL25–33Vaikona (2), Bradley, SpruceMcNamara 4/4, McNamara 1 DG6,955
23 August 1998Super League III18Halifax Blue SoxAThe ShayL12–25Deacon, McDermottMcNamara 2/27,566
31 August 1998Super League III19Castleford TigersHOdsal StadiumW24–8Lowes, Scales, SpruceMcNamara 6/610,946
6 September 1998Super League III20London BroncosAThe StoopL8–34BradleyMcNamara 2/24,562
13 September 1998Super League III21Warrington WolvesHOdsal StadiumW36–8Lowes (2), Bradley, Ekoku, Paul, SpruceMcNamara 4/4, Deacon 2/210,815
20 September 1998Super League III22Wigan WarriorsACentral ParkL4–38EkokuMcNamara 0/111,181
27 September 1998Super League III23Salford City RedsHOdsal StadiumW40–18Deacon (2), Bradley, Harmon, Howard, McNamara, PaulMcNamara 5/6, Deacon 1/111,102

Challenge Cup
LEGEND
  Win
  Draw
  Loss
DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt
15 February 1998Cup4thRochdale HornetsASpotland StadiumW48–10Forshaw (2), Calland, Edwards, Jowitt, Lowes, Paul, Spruce, VaikonaLowes 3/5, McNamara 3/45,466
28 February 1998Cup5thCastleford TigersAThe JungleL21–26Calland, Lowes, Peacock, SpruceLowes 1/2, McNamara 1/2, McNamara 1 DG10,283

Playoffs
LEGEND
  Win
  Draw
  Loss
DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt
2 October 1998Play-offsEPOSt. HelensAKnowsley RoadL24–46Donougher (2), Crouthers, GrahamMcNamara 4/48,393

1998 squad statistics
Further information: Bradford Bulls
  • Appearances and points include (Super League, Challenge Cup and Play-offs)
No Player Position Tries Goals DG Points
1 Robbie Paul Fullback 10 0 0 40
2 Tevita Vaikona Wing 13 0 0 52
3 Graeme Bradley Centre 11 0 0 44
4 Abi Ekoku Centre 2 0 0 8
5 Jon Scales Wing 4 0 0 16
6 Danny Peacock Stand Off 5 0 0 20
8 Neil Harmon Prop 1 0 0 4
9 Kevin Crouthers Hooker 1 0 0 4
10 Nathan Graham Fullback 1 0 1 5
11 Jeremy Donougher Second Row 3 0 0 12
12 Paul Medley Second Row 1 0 0 4
13 Sonny Nickle Loose forward 0 0 0 0
14 Mike Forshaw Loose forward 7 0 0 28
15 Paul Anderson Prop 0 0 0 0
16 Warren Jowitt Prop 1 0 0 4
17 Nathan McAvoy Wing 1 0 0 4
19 Harvey Howard Prop 1 0 0 4
20 Matt Calland Centre 7 0 0 28
22 Brian McDermott Prop 6 0 0 24
23 Bernard Dwyer Hooker 0 0 0 0
24 Paul Deacon Scrum-half 4 4 0 24
25 James Lowes Hooker 9 4 0 44
26 Steve McNamara Loose forward 1 81 4 170
27 Tahi Reihana Prop 0 0 0 0
28 Stuart Spruce Fullback 8 0 0 32
29 Stuart Fielden Prop 0 0 0 0
30 Andy Hodgson Centre 0 0 0 0
32 Michael Banks Prop 0 0 0 0
33 Leon Pryce Wing 0 0 0 0
36 Simon Knox Loose forward 0 0 0 0
47 Shaun Edwards Scrum-half 5 0 0 20

References
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