Bradford Bulls - Bull Masters (original) (raw)

Bull Masters - James Lowes

When James Lowes signed for Bradford Bulls in January 1996, no one could have envisaged the impact he was to make in the new era that was just about the dawn; Super League. Lowes was a legend at Leeds, having joined them from Hunslet, where he was a Scrum Half and was one of the players that Doug Laughton built the Loiners great side - they finished runners up to Wigan in all competitions - of the early to mid 1990's. It was Laughton who converted him to Hooker but the Coach's departure and that of a number of that Leeds side saw him effectively pushed sideways. New Coach Dean Bell felt that Lowes' style of play was not suited to the modern game - whatever that was - and decided to offer him a one year contract as a Back Row Forward, preferring the running style of Mick Shaw - whatever happened to him - instead of the shrewd distribution of the former Hunslet Parkside Junior.

Alerted by the availability of Lowes, Bradford Coach Brian Smith moved quickly and it was a shock to everyone at Headingley, Directors, Coaching Staff and Supporters alike, when it was announced he had signed for the newly named Bulls. Leeds had been expecting their player in for training and were amazed that he was instead attending a Media Conference at Odsal to announce his immediate signing.

Joining the Bulls was the career leap that elevated him to Super Star status. Brian Smith was probably the best coach in the game at time and he knew exactly how to get the best out of his players. He quickly became the best Hooker in the game and was the driving force for an unprecedented run of success for the club until his retirement at the end of 2003. It was Lowes who had the ball in his hands as the hooter sounded at Murrayfield to signal the Bulls first Challenge Cup win in fifty one years and it was Lowes who scored the final try in the 2003 Super League Grand Final in the last minute of his last game for the club to seal a remarkable treble for the club that season. Lowes was undoubtedly the biggest influence on any team during the first eight years of the summer competition.

James Lowes was simply a rock round which Brian Smith, Matthew Elliott and Brian Noble built their teams. Controversial at times, he controlled the game from Dummy Half and set the standard for the modern Hooker. He was selected in the Millennium Masters side at the end of 1999 and again he was an automatic choice for the Team of the Century, when the Bulls celebrated their Centenary in 2007; such was his impact on the team, the club and the game. In 2006 he was voted ‘Tetley's Rugby League Legend' in a poll amongst Bulls fans to decide who in their opinion had made the most impact over the Super League years.

He was synonymous with the Bulls unprecedented success in Super League and following his retirement as a player he joined the Coaching Staff, under Brian Noble before following his friend and fellow Leeds United supporter, Karl Harrison to Salford. He resigned from his position following Harrison's departure but was immediately snapped up by Warrington as Assistant Coach to Paul Cullen. When Cullen departed, midway through 2008, he was elevated to First team Coach but a run of eight consecutive defeats saw the Wolves appoint England Coach, Tony Smith as Director of Rugby, effectively relegating James to the Assistant's position again.

But James Lowes will always be remembered for the eight years he spent at Bradford Bulls. He played for Great Britain with the same no nonsense style that marked his displays at Odsal and it's fair to say he was as effective in his last season as he was in his first.

Jimmy was the vital member of the successful Bulls side that took the Championship in 1997 - the Year he was voted Man of Steel, an award that was ‘made' for him - and he was again the vital member of the all conquering Bulls of 2003.

In total Jimmy won three Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Championship, playing 238 games scoring 99 tries, and one drop goal. Jimmy also represented GB five times.

He was a Legend at the club. A true ‘Bull Master' and a Master Bull!!