A freak double injury blow has forced Bradford Bulls' defensive rock Bernard Dwyer to call time on a 16-year career at the top of the British game.

Now he will be given a special send-off when, fittingly, the Bulls take on his only other professional club, St Helens, at Odsal next Friday.

The 33-year-old former Great Britain international defied a specialist's advice to play on with a torn bicep in his left arm and help the Bulls end a 51-year wait for Challenge Cup glory at Murrayfield last month. But when he suffered a similar injury in his right arm during the next game at Hull the writing was on the wall for one of the club's unsung heroes.

"It is a sad day," admitted Dwyer. "But the injuries have made the decision for me.

"I sustained the first injury in the semi-final against Warrington and was told I needed an operation which would keep me out for the rest of the season.

"Instead I decided to battle on and fortunately I was able to finally get a cup winners' medal after losing in four previous finals.

"But when it happened again at Hull I couldn't believe it. I knew, sat in the dressing room at the end of the game, that my career was over.

"It's sad that I couldn't see the season out because the side is playing so well. I think the boys have a great chance of reaching the Grand Final and making amends for last season's defeat.

"But I've enjoyed every minute of my time with the club and it's been a pleasure to be involved with such a great bunch of players, knowledgeable coaching staff and terrific fans who have supported me from day one."

Dwyer had an operation on his right arm last week and after a six- to eight-week recovery period will then have surgery on the left arm.

Bulls coach Matthew Elliott paid his own tribute, saying: "It is with a great deal of sadness, both at a personal and professional level, that I have received Bernard's decision.

"He has made a massive contribution to both the morale and the performance of the team in his time here.

"Bernard's contribution often went unrecognised by people outside the organisation but to the players and coaching staff he was the one person that we all wanted in the team.

"When his career ending injury occurred at Hull, he was unable to use either arm, but stayed on the field for the last 20 minutes just throwing his body at the opposition to help us hold on for a draw. Perhaps that best describes his character and qualities.

"But I feel sure he still has a significant contribution to make to the game in the area of developing junior players."

Since joining the club in November 1995 along with Paul Loughlin and Sonny Nickle, in a then world record £500,000 package deal which took Paul Newlove to St Helens, Dwyer has made 97 appearances, including 13 as a substitute, scoring 15 tries.

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