Flanagan not hiding away from Bradford Bulls problems

“I’ve been wearing a balaclava lately so nobody recognises me!” he joked after the Bulls finally put paid to their worst losing run in five years.

It’s been a testing period for all concerned as the play-off ambitions were blown out the water by a pointless July.

As one of the proud Bradfordians in the changing room, the barren streak has hit Flanagan as hard as anyone.

“It’s been a tough few weeks, hasn’t it. This is a good team, it’s not bad at all but we’ve not been playing to the best of our ability.

“Everyone’s got their own opinions and us as professionals have got to take it on the chin.

“I’ve got loads of family members and friends who are fans of this club, so I get it from all angles. When we lose, I certainly hear about it.

“I’m a fan as well and I’m fortunate enough to play for the club.

“Criticism is part and parcel of sport. We know we haven’t been good enough this year, there’s no question about that.

“The Bulls need to be battling against the top teams and, for whatever reason, we haven’t been doing that.”

Flanagan, typically, was at the forefront of Sunday’s 48-18 win over Workington providing the spark needed to stir the rest of the team out of their torpor.

His arrival at the end of ragged and sloppy first half – coupled with a blast at the break from Mark Dunning – transformed their fortunes.

Flanagan led the way with two quick-fire tries and came within a couple of metres of a hat-trick before being hauled down.

“I didn’t see where their winger came from!

“Gilly (Kieran Gill) said he was going to pass it to Ryan (Millar) on the outside but then saw me coming inside of him and wanted to give me my hat-trick.

“I was galloping away and then the next minute I got wiped out.

“It’s all good getting the tries and the performances but at the end of the day it’s about this club and getting it back to where it should be. If I can play a small part, then so be it.”

Dunning certainly acknowledges the chirpy character who energised what could otherwise have turned into another very uncomfortable afternoon.

“I wouldn’t like to be his wife Toni and have to live with him,” laughed the Bulls coach.

“If he’s like that at home, God knows what they go through!

“But George is a champion bloke who cares passionately about this club and he’ll do anything he can to help.”

George Flanagan dives over for his second try against Workington. Pictures: Tom Pearson

Flanagan may be the senior statesman in the changing room at 35 – a couple of years older than Aaron Murphy and skipper Steve Crossley – but he has lost none of his enthusiasm.

The hooker added: “People call me Peter Pan or Benjamin Button, I never get old.

“I’m always cheery around training and being with the lads. I’m loving my rugby and as long as that continues, then I’ll keep supporting and playing for this club for as long as I can.

“It’s a tough one because we’re all good mates off the field and we want to put in decent performances.

“Sunday was a massive confidence boost and we obviously want to finish off the season on a high if possible and see where it takes us.

“Without sounding big-headed, we’ve got to realise that everybody who plays against Bradford brings their best game and wants to knock us off our perch.

“We’ve got to be aware of what teams can do to us and match it. The enthusiasm and smartness around our play have got to be a little bit better than what they are at the minute.

“It’s been a hard few weeks but we’ve got lots of games coming up and we’re still playing teams in and around the play-offs.

“As long as we can put our best forward, then we’ll give ourselves every chance possible.

“We’ll go to York on Monday and I’m sure give the best account of ourselves.”

The final month of the season sees the Bulls facing three trips to play-off sides. After the televised clash at the LNER Stadium, they also go to Halifax and Batley.

Flanagan is desperate to try and lift the mood around the club again.

“That’s what we need to bring back as a team,” he said.

“When things are going against you, it can be doom and gloom. But you’ve got to create your own atmosphere as players and stick together through the tough times.

“It’s the sport industry and lots of teams go through adversity and periods of bad results. People can jump on the back of it and give you some outside noise.

“It has been difficult, I’m not going to hide away from that because I’m a Bradford lad.

“We need to generate some performances on the field and start creating a good brand of rugby.

"Mark Dunning, Leigh Beattie and everybody are trying to bring that to the club, so we’ll see how we finish the season.”