Has anybody seen on the Bulls Facebook pages, Mick is asking for nominations for people's opinions on Northern/Bulls greatest ever player. I thought we could have our say on here as well, seen as though we are more intellectual

Obviously it depends on how old you are as to which player you have the fondest memories of. I'm 49 and started watching the Northern when a certain 16 year old full back made his debut. Keith Mumby was by far the most consistent player I have seen. Outstanding defence, outstanding under a high ball, I thought he was underrated in attack as well. I remember getting a northern shirt when I was about 10 and practicing goal kicks on the field where we lived thinking I was Keith, happy days. He will always be my first choice.

In the Bulls era I would say Henry Paul. I thought he was the most complete player. Brilliant individually, creative for the team, brilliant goal kicker and I also thought his defence was very good, which is not how people would remember for. A shame we didn't get a few more seasons out of him

No real suprises to see Trevor Foster and Keith Mumby top of the nominations.

It was really close between third and eighth, with less than 50 nominations separating them.

1/ Trevor Foster (1,817)
2/ Keith Mumby (1,572)
3/ Lesley Vainikolo (1,284)
4/ Ellery Hanley (1,279)
5/ Brian Noble (1,271)
6/ James Lowes (1,263)
7/ Robbie Hunter-Paul (1,25icon_cool.gif
8/ Karl Fairbank (1,244)
9/ Mick Withers (1,151)
10/ Frank Whitcombe (1,117)

The top four are now in the final poll.

Would agree with all the above on Keith.Unbelievebly consistent.Didnt we just love watching opposing wingers racing away and there supporters already celebrating what looked like a certain try only while we all smiled at each other with that knowing look because we all knew "Mumby will have him" and sure enough a few seconds later the celebrations were silenced as another would be tryscorer was brought crashing to earth with razor like precision.Those were days my friends.

How can Hanley be above such as Fairbank and Robbie Paul, who turned their blood to water for the Bulls, no disrespect to Hanley, but he claimed fame and went, Fairbank and Robbie had Bradford in their blood

We used to joke that Mumby used to tackle the man and tie his boot laces together so he fell over when he tried to get up.
He once gave Offiah the outside and everyone thought it was a try all over but Mumby timed it perfectly and grabbed both legs at the same time. The crowd went silent when he missed one.
There were some other very good fullbacks though which curtailed his international career.
How good would Keith be today with full time training. Probably not much quicker but worth his weight in gold never the less. Great player and club man. Oh for a young Keith right now and throw in a young Fairbanks, Peacock, Fielden and a 17 year old Robbie. And for the older ones, a David Redfearn on the wing.

If we had them they would all leave after their breakthrough season. Case in point, James Bentley.

Aye Dave Redfearn great winger.Also a decent stand off and loose forward in his later years

Mick put something similar on Twitter too

It's a funny one, as I would care to bet that a vast majority of the votes for Trevor Foster were by people who never saw him play. Obviously a club legend, but footage for those not old enough is very limited, and the game very different to its current guise.

I first went to a game around 1991-2 so caught the very back end of an odd appearance from Nobby and Mumby, so can at least say I saw them play for the club, but they were very much past their best at that point.

For me, I've not seen any players as gifted as Newlove and Henry Paul play for the club. Other favorites included Fairbank and Fielden, but for very differing reasons. Very much more about effort and commitment.

There's also the other argument aside from whether you saw them play or not.

What defines the "greatest player"? There's an argument Trevor Foster is because of what he did for the club, rather than what he was actually like on the pitch. There's an argument Henry Paul is because he was one of the most skillful players I've certainly ever seen. But is effort more important than skill, at which point someone like a Jimmy Lowes who battled for 80 minutes every week like his life depended on it. Does having the right attitude and setting the correct example to young fans contribute? Or is a mixture of those things?
Depending on what defines the statement, would probably make the choice most people would make different.

Clearly there's other factors for other people too, as despite me very much rating Paul Deacon, I can't see how anyone would choose him as the greatest ever Bradford player.

I remember once reading about the role a stand off should play - linking the outside backs in attack, good range of passing, a kicking game to support the scrum half, defensively sound. I Cant think of a more dominant 6 in every area as Henry, his running game -pace, evasion, ability to break tackles, passing range-organisng , and kicking immaculate but defensively it was no surprise he came back playing loose forward for London. I always thought Robbie's defense was underappreciated as well.

Not with us long enough to be greatest player but if withers gets in the top 10 surely he should be up there?

I said this on another group I post in, opinions are based on what people perceive in their own minds defines the best. Be it, talent loyalty or longevity theres case and point for all. For me on pure talent alone it was Henry Paul. I didnt start playing until 13/14 so by the time I was going to games it was 96/97. But Henry for me was the best all round player I have seen for us. Saying that the amount of mentions needed even over the period I've been a fan for various reasons, Spruce, Les, Hape, Fielden, Peacock etc etc.

One thing this sort of thing gets me thinking about is players who had a decent career but could have been so much better. I genuinely believe Jamie Langley could have been GBs most Farrell type player, after coming through as a line breaking try scoring loose forward and getting GB caps, he (was it he or club) decided to bulk up too much for me stifling a lot of his game. I do think we saw a glimpse when he first went to KR of playing like the old Langley

It's a minefield, to be honest.

I think if you're putting numbers, even metaphorically, on backs, then it has to be down to what they achieved as a player, though whether or not you actually saw any of a particular player's career is yet another interesting point in all these polls. Like Strictly come dancing, many will just vote for their favourite anyway, so it's hardly an objective exercise. Another major obstacle to objectivity is the fact that the game has changed, almost beyond recognition over the years - though I confess, I'm not altogether sure about whether the word 'almost' should be in that sentence, since 1950's RL, which I can still just about remember, truly contained very little which can be compared with the current game.

Maybe the poll is just a bit of fun? I for one can't take it too seriously - anymore that the club's 'team of the century' which they announced some time back. Different times, different rules, different games.

It's not an official poll, so certainly not to be taken too seriously.

It was just something I posted to cure people of the Christmas blues.

After carefully counting the nominations and votes on social media for the greatest ever #BradfordNorthern #BradfordBulls player.

I can now reveal the top 20 players as chosen by you.

Thank you to everyone who took part in nominating and voting.

#BradfordNorthern #BradfordBulls Greatest ever player vote.

20/ Jeff Greyshon

19/ Jamie Langley

18/ Paul Medley

17/ Joe Phillips

16/ Brian McDermott

15/ Ernest Ward

14/ Paul Deacon

13/ Henry Paul

12/ Bernard Dwyer

11/ Graeme Bradley

10/ Frank Whitcombe

9/ Michael Withers

8/ Karl Fairbank

7/ Robbie Hunter-Paul

6/ James Lowes

5/ Brian Noble

4/ Ellery Hanley

3/ Keith Mumby

2/ Lesley Vainikolo

1/ Trevor John French Foster MBE

Trevor Foster recieved the most nominations and votes and has been crowned #BradfordNorthern #BradfordBulls greatest ever player.

Thank you to everyone who took part.

I can't be the only one laughing at those two statements one after the other