Paul Medley chuffed as five Bulls named in England Academy squad

7:30am Tuesday 11th December 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Bradford Bulls' Alex Mellor, pictured playing for England in their youth test in 2011 against France at Odsal, has been promoted to the England Academy squad. Picture: www.footballcaughtinaction.co.uk Bradford Bulls' Alex Mellor, pictured playing for England in their youth test in 2011 against France at Odsal, has been promoted to the England Academy squad. Picture: www.footballcaughtinaction.co.uk

Paul Medley has spoken of his delight after five Bulls youngsters were named in the England Academy squad for the 2013 campaign.

Curtis Naughton and Oliver Roberts, who along with Sam Wood were recently promoted into Francis Cummins’ first-team squad, are joined in the 24-man group by back-rower Alex Mellor, hooker Nathan Conroy and centre Josh Casey.

Wood is ineligible as he is a year older than the others but Medley feels the handful of inclusions illustrates the progress being made in the club’s youth ranks at a difficult time.

The Bulls’ Academy side enjoyed a highly successful 2012 campaign, despite the ongoing backdrop of uncertainty around the club’s future and slide into administration.

Head of youth development Medley said: “All the players selected performed superbly last season and didn't let the club's off-field problems affect their performances.

“They have been rewarded for a fine season and I'm delighted for them all.”

Full back Naughton and back-rower Roberts train on a daily basis with the first-team squad, while Casey, Conroy and Mellor are also rated highly at the club.

Bulls forward John Bateman captained the England Academy side in matches against France and their tour of Australia earlier this year.

The 19-year-old, tipped as a future Bulls skipper, will now look to push into the second-tier England Knights side this coming season.

The Knights, for whom Bulls scrum half Luke Gale has become a regular, are seen as the natural progression into the senior side.

England Academy coach Dave Elliott said: “We learnt a lot about our players during the 2012 season, with both age groups playing tough games against France and the Academy getting the experience of touring in Australia, and I’m looking forward to continuing that progression and helping these young players further develop in 2013.

“The big thing for us is to see how these players cope in an England environment having performed well for their clubs during the season.

“There is a direct pathway to the England senior side and these lads can see clearly the steps they need to take to progress towards Steve McNamara’s squad.

“We’re working hard to try and give the players the tools to better themselves and best prepare them to make that step up through the ranks.”

* England internationals Sam Tomkins and Kevin Sinfield have been nominated for the 2012 Golden Boot.

Wigan full back Tomkins won the 2012 Man of Steel award and became England’s record try-scorer, while Sinfield captained Leeds to a sixth Grand Final triumph and led England to victory in the autumn international series.

The last British winner of the most prestigious individual award in rugby league was former Wigan and England captain Andrew Farrell in 2004.

Others shortlisted for the award, which will be announced on January 4, are Australia captain Cameron Smith, his Melbourne Storm team-mate Cooper Cronk, Canterbury full back Ben Barba and Gold Coast forward Nate Myles.
 

Comments(26)

bully4us says...
10:04am Tue 11 Dec 12

Very big of you to come on here and issue that statement. You know where he works. Get yourself up there and tell him.

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Steam Pigs says...
10:10am Tue 11 Dec 12

Keep up the good work Medders

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
10:30am Tue 11 Dec 12

bully4us wrote:
Very big of you to come on here and issue that statement. You know where he works. Get yourself up there and tell him.
Whatever

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Mumby was the best says...
10:34am Tue 11 Dec 12

Well done Medders, a great servant at the club both as a player and academy coach. The future is looking good.

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Steam Pigs says...
12:15pm Tue 11 Dec 12

ifallwerelikemumby wrote:
bully4us wrote:
Very big of you to come on here and issue that statement. You know where he works. Get yourself up there and tell him.
Whatever
COWARD

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Steam Pigs says...
1:06pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Don't panic I've passed your coments onto Paul ;-)

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doctor.t says...
1:08pm Tue 11 Dec 12

WELL DONE!!! - you have admitted,in writing,on a public forum,that you are a TROLL.

That is the hardest part - the rest of the treatment should be a breeze.

Trust me....I'm a doctor.

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
1:54pm Tue 11 Dec 12

doctor.t wrote:
WELL DONE!!! - you have admitted,in writing,on a public forum,that you are a TROLL.

That is the hardest part - the rest of the treatment should be a breeze.

Trust me....I'm a doctor.
Run along now SON you ain't in the same league

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stonnibull says...
2:04pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Where can I find some serious and thought out comments about the Bulls instead of having to trawl through all the childsh name-calling rubbish

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Steam Pigs says...
2:18pm Tue 11 Dec 12

stonnibull wrote:
Where can I find some serious and thought out comments about the Bulls instead of having to trawl through all the childsh name-calling rubbish
RL Fans - trolls most certainly dealt with in a timely manner

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
2:46pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Is that why you have just reported me ? If you cant give it son don't take it, I hope Ross has similar warnings for ALL the ones who abuse me and Shelf as we don't want discrimination now do we ?

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Steam Pigs says...
3:01pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Not guilty... but ha ha

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raisemeup says...
3:10pm Tue 11 Dec 12

We have a positive article about how successful our youngsters are in securing an England Academy place!

Paul Medley is giving them a collective pat on the back for all the right reasons.

When they read about themselves and how the team boss feels about their achievements, they will then
be subject to the inane and stupid comments that infest this site.
Particulary from the Clown prince Ifall....

For what it's worth I for one am proud of their achievements, well done to you all, as the budding stars of the future, and hopefully in the Red Amber and Black for a long time to come.

PS well done to the administrator for warning the spiteful twerp.Let's get rid of 'em.

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
3:27pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Ah there is the culprit now , Sorry for blaming you SP I should have known who it was.

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raisemeup says...
5:07pm Tue 11 Dec 12

ifallwerelikemumby wrote:
Ah there is the culprit now , Sorry for blaming you SP I should have known who it was.
No it wasn't but whoever did it gave you the collective black eye..didn't they???

Your comments are usually worthy of that.

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
5:37pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Dont believe you .

BUSTED

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raisemeup says...
7:07pm Tue 11 Dec 12

ifallwerelikemumby wrote:
Dont believe you .

BUSTED
Please yourself! Believe me if it had have been me, I would have told you!
The time I worry about what a person like you thinks or does will be when H..l freezes over.

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
7:30pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Any nice bit of backtracking there lad but hey ho I understand who can and cannot take stick, I don't imagine for one minute it was anyone else but if it was they are obviously too sacred to tell this so called troll to his face.
Lets hope the bulls pack are not as cowardly.

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Mumby was the best says...
8:30pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Methinks the CRETIN has a relation who played for West Bowling who got rejected by Medders!

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Sheffieldbull says...
8:33pm Tue 11 Dec 12

...Which face? .....Whoever it was, don't slip on it's slime trail... Get a shell lol!

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
8:47pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Mumby was the best wrote:
Methinks the CRETIN has a relation who played for West Bowling who got rejected by Medders!
Wrong AGAIN

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
9:25pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Shhh anyway this game at the valley great although cold.
Come on city

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
10:37pm Tue 11 Dec 12

Welcome bulls fans to the bobby Campbell bar where super city have shown just what a team we are and will at least make the city proud which is more than can be said for some.
Get the city lads signed on at bulls to show you commitment.

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
11:07pm Tue 11 Dec 12

PS Don't forget to dig deep for Salford now they are in same boat as bulls were not long ago.

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bringbackjimmy says...
9:31pm Wed 12 Dec 12

What a joke this webiste forum has become.
Pity that a small minority have hijacked it for their own entertainment.
My suggestion is to head over to RLFANS.COM by following the link below.
You do get a better class of nutter!

http://forums.rlfans
.com/viewforum.php?t
smp=1355347403&f=19&
sid=2b1bc3733a36d0ac
b130a851d6a27747

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ifallwerelikemumby says...
9:34pm Wed 12 Dec 12

I agree and I am on there already under same name feel free to PM me .

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