2003 Bradford Bulls season

December 2024 May 2014 April 2026 2003 #ffffff #f32824 Super League Super League VIII 1st 24 0 6 1149 637 Winners Challenge Cup Winners 5 0 Chairman Chris Caisley Head Coach Brian Noble Robbie Paul Odsal Stadium 15,284 21,784 vs. Leeds Rhinos Lesley Vainikolo (26) Paul Deacon (173) Paul Deacon (389) 2002 2004 yes List of Bradford Bulls seasons This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2003 season, the 8th season of the Super League era. Season review February 2003 The season started off well for the Bulls as they beat Warrington Wolves 38–12 in the 4th Round of the Challenge Cup. Bradford's start to the league campaign was shocking as they were hammered 46–22 by the 2002 champions St Helens R.F.C. March 2003 Bradford continued their run in the Challenge Cup with an 82–0 victory over lower league Hunslet Hawks with Lesley Vainikolo grabbing a hat-trick. The Bulls got their 1st win of their league campaign with a hard-fought 22–10 win against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Bradford progressed to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup by beating Widnes Vikings 38–28 in the quarter-final. The Bulls got their first back to back wins of the season with an outstanding 62–22 victory against Halifax Blue Sox, both James Lowes and Robbie Paul both grabbed hat-tricks. Bradford finished the month off with a hard-fought 26–18 win against Widnes Vikings. April 2003 The Bulls continued their run of form by opening April with a comfortable 32–8 win over Warrington Wolves. Bradford progressed to the Challenge Cup Final as they beat Wigan Warriors 36–22 in the semi-final. The Bulls great league form continued with a 48–24 win over Hull FC. Bradford's month came to a spectacular end as they beat rivals Leeds Rhinos 22–20 to win the Challenge Cup. Tries from Robbie Paul, Jamie Peacock and Tevita Vaikona helped the Bulls win their 2nd Challenge Cup in the Super League era. May 2003 The Bulls followed their Challenge Cup win with a hard-fought 14–8 win against Wigan Warriors. The Bulls good form continued with a hard-fought 30–10 win against Castleford Tigers which was made even harder when Leon Pryce was sent off. Bradford recorded a huge win as they beat Huddersfield Giants 52–6 with Robbie Paul scoring a hat-trick. The Bulls finished May with an impressive 48–22 win against arch rivals Leeds Rhinos. June 2003 Bradford started June with an unfortunate 22–12 loss to London Broncos with Dennis Moran tearing the Bulls apart and scoring a hat-trick. The Bulls got back to winning ways as they edged out Hull F.C. to win the game 26–20. Bradford once again came away with the 2 points as they beat Warrington Wolves 24–20. The Bulls came crashing back to earth as Wigan Warriors beat them 35–22. Bradford then were demolished 35–0 by St Helens R.F.C. at the end of the month. July 2003 The Bulls started July with a 30–18 win against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to get the Bulls back to winning ways. Bradford backed this win up with a 60–12 victory over Halifax Blue Sox. The Bulls continued their fine form with a 40–8 win against Widnes Vikings. The streak continued with a 40–20 win over Castleford Tigers and then a 60–6 win against London Broncos where Leon Pryce scored 4 tries. August 2003 Bradford continued their form into August as they beat Huddersfield Giants 30–16 and then followed this up by beating Leeds Rhinos 18–16 at Headingley Stadium. The Bulls also beat Hull F.C. 36–22 in the middle of the month before losing 26–12 to Wigan Warriors. Bradford bounced back and hammered London Broncos 54–12 with Paul Deacon becoming the highest point scorer for the Bulls in the Super League era as he booted over his 400th goal for the club. September 2003 Bradford started September with a very narrow 22–21 win against arch rivals Leeds Rhinos, the Bulls won thanks to 2 drop goals from scum-half Paul Deacon. In the run up to the end of the season Bradford lost 28–14 to Castleford Tigers. The Bulls finished the regular rounds with a 22–18 win over St Helens R.F.C. which meant that Bradford finished top of the league ahead of Leeds Rhinos. October 2003 The Bulls beat arch rivals Leeds Rhinos 30–14 in the Qualifying Semi-final to reach the 2003 Grand Final, in the process Paul Deacon became the first person to score 1,000 points for the Bradford Bulls in the Super League era. A couple of weeks later the Bulls would once again face Wigan Warriors in a Grand Final, the Bradford side won 25–12 after Shontayne Hape, Stuart Reardon and James Lowes (in his last game for the Bulls) all scored tries whilst Paul Deacon kicked 6 goals and a drop goal to make the Bulls Super League champions for a 3rd time. 2003 milestones CCR4: Shontayne Hape scored his 1st try for the Bulls. CCR4: Leon Pryce scored his 50th try and reached 200 points for the Bulls. CCR5: Lesley Vainikolo scored his 1st hat-trick for the Bulls. CCR5: Karl Pratt and Rob Parker scored their 1st tries for the Bulls. Round 2: Lee Radford kicked his 1st goal for the Bulls. Round 3: James Lowes scored his 1st hat-trick for the Bulls. Round 3: Robbie Paul scored his 7th hat-trick for the Bulls. Round 3: Stuart Reardon scored his 1st try for the Bulls. Round 3: Paul Deacon reached 700 points for the Bulls. CCSF: Paul Deacon kicked his 300th goal for the Bulls. Round 10: Robbie Paul scored his 8th hat-trick for the Bulls. Round 10: Paul Deacon reached 800 points for the Bulls. Round 11: Daniel Gartner scored his 25th try and reached 100 points for the Bulls. Round 15: Robbie Paul scored his 125th try and reached 500 points for the Bulls. Round 18: Lesley Vainikolo scored his 25th try and reached 100 points for the Bulls. Round 20: Paul Deacon reached 900 points for the Bulls. Round 7: Leon Pryce scored his 1st four-try haul and 2nd hat-trick for the Bulls. Round 7: Jamie Langley scored his 1st try for the Bulls. Round 23: Lesley Vainikolo scored his 2nd hat-trick for the Bulls. Round 25: James Lowes reached 400 points for the Bulls. Round 25: Paul Deacon kicked his 400th goal for the Bulls. Qualifying Semi-final: Paul Deacon reached 1,000 points for the Bulls. Table 2003 Fixtures and results LEGEND Win Draw Loss 2003 Tetley's Super League DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt21 February 2003Super League VIII112pxSt. HelensAKnowsley RoadL22–46L.Pryce (2), RadfordDeacon 5/512,217 9 March 2003Super League VIII212pxWakefield Trinity WildcatsHOdsal StadiumW22–10Gilmour, Hape, Pratt, L.PryceRadford 3/420,283 23 March 2003Super League VIII3Halifax 12Halifax RLFCHOdsal StadiumW62–22Lowes (3), Paul (3), Deacon, Hape, Pratt, L.Pryce, ReardonDeacon 7/9, Lowes 2/215,557 30 March 2003Super League VIII4Widnes Vikings 12Widnes VikingsAHalton StadiumW26–18Anderson, Naylor, Paul, WithersDeacon 5/56,320 6 April 2003Super League VIII512pxWarrington WolvesHOdsal StadiumW32–8Deacon, Lowes, L.Pryce, Vaikona, Vainikolo, WithersDeacon 4/615,54018 April 2003Super League VIII612pxHull F.C.HOdsal StadiumW48–24Pratt (2), L.Pryce (2), Hape, Lowes, Vaikona, VainikoloDeacon 8/815,182 2 May 2003Super League VIII812pxWigan WarriorsAJJB StadiumW14–8L.Pryce (2), VainikoloDeacon 1/310,281 11 May 2003Super League VIII912pxCastleford TigersHOdsal StadiumW30–10Vaikona (2), Deacon, VaganaDeacon 7/714,749 18 May 2003Super League VIII1012pxHuddersfield GiantsAMcAlpine StadiumW52–6Paul (3), Vaikona (2), Naylor, Peacock, Pratt, VainikoloDeacon 3/4, Radford 5/58,297 23 May 2003Super League VIII1112pxLeeds RhinosHOdsal StadiumW48–22Vaikona (2), Vainikolo (2), Anderson, Gartner, Paul, PrattDeacon 8/821,784 1 June 2003Super League VIII12Cronulla 12London BroncosHOdsal StadiumL12–22Naylor, ParkerDeacon 2/210,835 8 June 2003Super League VIII1312pxHull F.C.AKC StadiumW26–20Hape, Pratt, VainikoloDeacon 7/719,549 15 June 2003Super League VIII1412pxWarrington WolvesAWilderspoolW24–20Forshaw, Gartner, Naylor, PaulDeacon 4/47,507 21 June 2003Super League VIII1512pxWigan WarriorsHOdsal StadiumL22–35Deacon, Gartner, Paul, VaganaDeacon 3/415,732 27 June 2003Super League VIII1612pxSt. HelensHOdsal StadiumL0–35––11,127 6 July 2003Super League VIII1712pxWakefield Trinity WildcatsABelle VueW30–18Hape (2), Gartner, Lowes, Vagana, VaikonaDeacon 3/64,658 11 July 2003Super League VIII18Halifax 12Halifax RLFCAThe ShayW60–12Gartner (2), Parker (2), Vainikolo (2), Anderson, Deacon, Hape, Naylor, RadfordDeacon 8/114,555 20 July 2003Super League VIII19Widnes Vikings 12Widnes VikingsHOdsal StadiumW40–8Radford (2), Vainikolo (2), Hape, Reardon, VaikonaDeacon 6/712,116 27 July 2003Super League VIII2012pxCastleford TigersAThe JungleW40–20Deacon, Gartner, Gilmour, Naylor, L.Pryce, Radford, VaikonaDeacon 6/79,081 30 July 2003Super League VIII7Cronulla 12London BroncosAGriffin ParkW60–6L.Pryce (4), Vainikolo (2), Anderson, Langley, Lowes, Naylor, VaikonaDeacon 8/113,651 3 August 2003Super League VIII2112pxHuddersfield GiantsHOdsal StadiumW30–16Deacon (2), Radford, Reardon, VainikoloDeacon 5/511,368 8 August 2003Super League VIII2212pxLeeds RhinosAHeadingley StadiumW18–16Forshaw, Parker, VainikoloDeacon 3/323,035 16 August 2003Super League VIII2312pxHull F.C.HOdsal StadiumW36–22Vainikolo (3), Gilmour (2), Anderson, LangleyRadford 4/710,478 25 August 2003Super League VIII2412pxWigan WarriorsAJJB StadiumL12–26Vagana, VaikonaDeacon 2/214,714 31 August 2003Super League VIII25Cronulla 12London BroncosAGriffin ParkW54–12Peacock (2), Vaikona (2), Hape, Lowes, Parker, Radford, VaganaDeacon 9/93,5107 September 2003Super League VIII2612pxLeeds RhinosHOdsal StadiumW22–21Deacon, Reardon, VainikoloDeacon 4/4, Deacon 2 DG21,102 14 September 2003Super League VIII2712pxCastleford TigersHOdsal StadiumL14–28Hape, L.PryceDeacon 3/313,62819 September 2003Super League VIII2812pxSt. HelensAKnowsley RoadW22–18Hape, L.Pryce, Vaikona, VainikoloDeacon 3/48,432 Challenge Cup LEGEND Win Draw Loss DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt8 February 2003Cup4th12pxWarrington WolvesAWilderspoolW38–12Vainikolo (2), Hape, Naylor, Paul, L.PryceDeacon 7/75,8692 March 2003Cup5thHunslet 12Hunslet HawksASouth Leeds StadiumW82–0Vainikolo (3), Pratt (2), L.Pryce (2), Vaikona (2), Fielden, Gartner, Gilmour, Hape, Parker, RadfordDeacon 11/155,68515 March 2003CupQFWidnes Vikings 12Widnes VikingsAHalton StadiumW38–28Forshaw (2), Hape, Naylor, Paul, L.PryceDeacon 7/74,21913 April 2003CupSF12pxWigan WarriorsNMcAlpine StadiumW36–22Radford (2), Deacon, Hape, Lowes, VaikonaDeacon 6/615,35926 April 2003CupFinal12pxLeeds RhinosNMillennium StadiumW22–20Paul, Peacock, VaikonaDeacon 5/571,212 Playoffs LEGEND Win Draw Loss DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt4 October 2003Play-offsQSF12pxLeeds RhinosHOdsal StadiumW30–14Forshaw (2), L.Pryce, VainikoloDeacon 7/719,78618 October 2003Play-offsGF12pxWigan WarriorsNOld TraffordW25–12Hape, Lowes, ReardonDeacon 6/6, Deacon 1 DG65,537 2003 squad statistics Bradford Bulls Appearances and Points include (Super League, Challenge Cup and Play-offs) as of 2012. NoPlayerPositionTriesGoalsDGPoints1Robbie PaulFullback1300522Tevita VaikonaWing2000803Leon PryceCentre2100844Shontayne HapeCentre1600645Lesley VainikoloWing26001046Michael WithersFullback20087Paul DeaconScrum-half1017333898Joe VaganaProp500209James LowesHooker10204410Paul AndersonProp5002011Daniel GartnerSecond Row8003212Jamie PeacockSecond Row4001613Mike ForshawLoose forward6002414Lee GilmourCentre5002015Karl PrattStand Off9003616Alex WilkinsonWing000017Stuart ReardonFullback5002018Lee RadfordProp101206419Jamie LangleyLoose forward200820Scott NaylorCentre9003622Karl PryceWing000023Vinny MylerProp000026Chris BridgeCentre000027Rob ParkerProp6002429Stuart FieldenProp100430Richard MooreWing0000 References External links Bradford Bulls Website Bradford Bulls in T&A Bradford Bulls on Sky Sports Bradford on Super League Site Red, Black and Amber BBC Sport-Rugby League https://archive.today/20121205063523/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/bradford/ 5 December 2012 Category:Bradford Bulls seasons Bradford Bulls