Vaguely interesting Newlove interview from 1993 : Sun Jun 21, 2009 2:02 am  

Local hero with a golden side-step Deep down I wanted to be a soccer player,' he confessed. 'I still do. I don't think rugby league is a big glamorous thing. People outside of it have only heard of Offiah and Hanley. I suppose I'd like to have a boot and clothing deal like them.' If only he played for Wigan, fame outside the game would surely be his, I ventured. 'I got caught in a traffic jam near Wigan recently and I was thinking 'If I was playing here, I'd have this to face two or three times a week.' ' Couldn't he move to Lancashire? 'No, I've got my family and friends round here. It's where I was brought up, and I still like to go out round Pontefract on Sunday night.' 'People say I'm cool about it all,' Newlove says. 'People say I'm a natural. Some say that I'm lazy in training - that could be true. People say I could be the next Mal Meninga. He was about 17 stone. I don't know if I could, but I do enough.

Local hero with a golden side-step Deep down I wanted to be a soccer player,' he confessed. 'I still do. I don't think rugby league is a big glamorous thing. People outside of it have only heard of Offiah and Hanley. I suppose I'd like to have a boot and clothing deal like them.' If only he played for Wigan, fame outside the game would surely be his, I ventured. 'I got caught in a traffic jam near Wigan recently and I was thinking 'If I was playing here, I'd have this to face two or three times a week.' ' Couldn't he move to Lancashire? 'No, I've got my family and friends round here. It's where I was brought up, and I still like to go out round Pontefract on Sunday night.' 'People say I'm cool about it all,' Newlove says. 'People say I'm a natural. Some say that I'm lazy in training - that could be true. People say I could be the next Mal Meninga. He was about 17 stone. I don't know if I could, but I do enough.

: Sun Jun 21, 2009 4:11 am  

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.

: Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:41 am  

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

Sheer class he was.

: Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:28 pm  

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.

: Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:01 pm  

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

: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:16 pm  

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

: Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:35 am  

rugbyreddog wrote:

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

Wipes monitor clean of recently-spat coffee.

: Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:41 am  

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!!!!

: Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:45 am  

isaac1 wrote:

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.

: Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:51 am  

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!