Brian Noble is a man who will forever be associated with Bradford - both the city and its rugby league club.

Only recently he was awarded the freedom of the city, one of just a handful of recipients to achieve such an honour and a sign of the impact he has had.

It proved immensely satisfying for the proud kid who grew up in Manningham to become a league legend both on his own doorstep and thousands of miles away Down Under.

Who would have thought back then that today, with his Bulls conquerors not only champions of Super League but the world, he would now be planning to take up the reins at Wigan.

Preposterous is a word that springs to mind. However, that is the position in which Noble now finds himself after a dramatic chain of events led to his sudden departure from Odsal

yesterday.

It ended a journey that

started more than a quarter-of-a-century ago and a

commitment that spanned four decades.

Noble has Bradford running through his veins, although it was Bradford Park Avenue FC, not Northern, that got his blood pumping as a child.

It took a fluke to get him involved in the 13-man game, Hansen School's football side seeing their match

postponed allowing him the chance to get his hands on a ball for their rugby team.

Noble never looked back and after Northern legend Trevor Foster discovered the fiery hooker's talent, taking him down to the Police Boys Club, the kid developed fast.

Foster also claimed the tyro for his club - Northern - and so began a career at Odsal that would eventually eclipse 400 games.

Having signed in 1978, Noble became a regular in the club's pack.

A ferocious competitor, a

creative force from dummy half who could weigh in with vital tries, he helped them to back-to-back titles between '79 and '81 while combining his playing duties with those of his day job: a policeman.

He pounded the streets of Bradford city centre as a

copper in the days when there was no such thing as a fully professional rugby player and eventually won Great Britain honours.

In 1984 Noble enjoyed his greatest honour as a player - leading the Great Britain Lions on their tour to Australia, playing Tests against the mighty Kangaroos and also New Zealand.

His playing career extended past his 33rd birthday - still in Bradford colours - before a brief stint at Wakefield Trinity as player-assistant coach to his former Northern packmate David Hobbs.

Another chance meeting with Matthew Elliott led to a swift return to Odsal as part of Brian Smith's coaching set-up in 1995 and he has since played an integral part in the club's undoubted success in the Super League era.

Since taking over as head coach in 2000, Noble's flair, determination and astute thinking has seen the Bulls evolve into a driving force, reaching each Grand Final since, winning three and adding World Club Challenge titles to the mix.