DEPARTING Bulls captain Steve Crossley let rip at the club after their final game of the season against Widnes, giving an extraordinary interview to the T&A.

Anyone thinking Crossley would be in high spirits after scoring a try on his final appearance, in a 23-10 defeat to Widnes at Odsal, was very much mistaken.

Speaking exclusively to us following the match, Crossley said: “There are a lot of players and all staff members that have been treated so disrespectfully, and I share the same frustrations as the fans.

“A lot of finger pointing has been done at the players and staff, which to some degree is fair as we are the ones on the pitch, but frustrations go further than that.

“There has been a real lack of leadership, organisation, communication, respect and most of all integrity.

“I’ve proudly stuck by this club and tried leading from the front after all the previous turmoil the club has gone through and the huge turnover of players in recent years.

“Through it all, I’ve always played for the badge on my shirt, so all of this is a real shame for the club I love.

“I thank all the fans who have watched and supported my career here, from a schoolboy to my latter years in the game.

“I will continue to come to games and support the players and Bradford Bulls in the future, as it’s still my home.

“I wish the club all the best in their preparations for next year and the future.”

Asked what was behind his decision to ultimately leave the club, Crossley said: “It’s due to personal reasons.

“I’m certainly not happy about leaving, even though it is my choice.

“If things were different, I’d be staying, but they’re not, so I’ve called time myself on my stay here.”

He added: “I didn’t want to leave, I could have stayed and would have loved to have stayed, but read between the lines, and you can see why I’ll be moving on.

“People know how much I love the club, so they know I wouldn’t leave without a good reason.

“That’s all I’ll say on the matter.”

Summing up his third and final spell at Bulls, which lasted for five seasons, all of which he was captain for, Crossley said: “It’s meant everything to me.

“I’m a Bradford lad, a Bradford fan who used to stand behind the players tunnel, watching the likes of Stuart Fielden, Jimmy Lowes and Jamie Peacock playing, all those big names.

“I had so many idols to look up to and watch during my time as a young fan.

“It means a hell of a lot to me that I’ve managed to come back here and been able to achieve what I have done.

“I’ve not finished my career though, I’m by no means retiring, I will be playing again somewhere else.”

Where Crossley does end up for 2023 remains to be seen, as he said: “I’ve left Bulls without having another club lined up.

“As I said, it was my choice to leave due to certain things happening around the club, and being unhappy about them.

“But I’ve not got anywhere else lined up, so I’ve got two options.

“I could ring round other clubs now, sign somewhere, and get straight back in, but I think I need a rest, certainly a holiday.

“Especially with (recovering from) Covid, it’s been absolutely non-stop, so I need a break.

“The body is battered and bruised. I’ve played a lot of games, and a lot of minutes for a big man, and it’s started to catch up with me this year.

“I wouldn’t say I’m slowing down, but my body hasn’t been able to heal right.

“But I’ll be able to have a good period of rest, get myself in good shape, and I’ll be on the lookout for another club in the New Year.

“I’m by no means finished yet.”

Asked what he felt his options were moving forward, Crossley said: “I could definitely carry on doing a job in the Championship.

“Ideally I would have stayed at Bulls, I didn’t want to move, but I can now have that period of rest, get in good shape, and be on the lookout for another club.

“And I’ll give that club 100 per cent, just like I have done for Bradford all these years.”

And that dedication continued to the last for Crossley.

Discussing his farewell try against Widnes, he said: “I’d have loved nothing more than to have got the win, that was my main priority going into the game.

“But if I can go out at Odsal, leading the boys on to the field one last time, and get myself over the line, that means just as much to me, finishing my time here with a try.”

In response to Crossley’s interview with us, Bulls CEO Jason Hirst said: “We are saddened and surprised to hear of Steve’s comments, at the end of what has been a long, distinguished and greatly appreciated Bradford Bulls career.

“It’s obviously been a difficult year for all concerned around the club, in whatever capacity we work in, so it’s perhaps understandable that frustrations and emotions are running high.

“In respect of the issues Steve raises, I introduced monthly meetings with the Players Leadership Group, so there is a perfect forum for matters of concern to be raised should anyone wish to do so.

“The last of these, on August 23, was deemed unnecessary by the players, as apparently there was nothing of concern to be raised and discussed.

“We are sorry that Steve feels the way he does. We wish Steve and his family every success in future and look forward to seeing him whenever he chooses to come and support the team at Odsal.”