Robbie Paul

Robert Rawiri 'Robbie' Hunter-Paul (born 3 February 1976) is a former New Zealand rugby league player. He currently works as the CEO at Super League side Bradford Bulls after retiring as a player at the end of the 2011 season following two years with Leigh Centurions. He played for the New Zealand national team 27 times. He is the younger brother of Leeds Carnegie player Henry Paul.

Background

Born in Tokoroa, New Zealand, his junior club was the Te Atatu Roosters in West Auckland. His mother, Gail, is of English descent and his father, Te Whata, who everyone knew as Walter, was a Maori.

Playing career

In the 1994 Lion Red Cup he played 11 games for the Waitakere City Raiders, scoring three tries.^[1]

Bradford Bulls

Paul joined Bradford in July 1994 from New Zealand at the age of 18 and has since gone on to represent his country. Paul captained Bradford at scrum half back in the 1996 Challenge Cup final and became the fourth player ever to achieve what was a Challenge Cup final record of three tries, being awarded the Lance Todd Trophy for man-of-the-match.^[2] He was the 1996 Bradford Bulls season's top try scorer.

Paul went into his winter loan spell with rugby union club Harlequins.

Paul played for Bradford Bulls as his brother Henry's halves partner in the 1999 Super League Grand Final which was lost to St Helens RLFC. Paul was selected for the New Zealand team to compete in the end of season 1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia he partnered his brother Henry in the halves, kicking six goals in the Kiwis' 22–20 loss.

Paul played for the Bradford Bulls as his brother Henry's halves partner in their 2001 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors. As Super League VI champions, the Bulls played against 2001 NRL Premiers, the Newcastle Knights in the 2002 World Club Challenge. Paul captained at stand-off half back and scored two tries in Bradford's victory. Paul played for Bradford Bulls at stand-off half back, scoring a try in their 2002 Super League Grand Final loss against St Helens RFC. Paul captained the Bulls to the "Treble" in 2003. He played for the Bradford Bulls from the interchange bench in their 2003 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors. He captained the Bulls to victory against Australian side Penrith Panthers in the 2004 World Club Challenge. He played for the Bradford Bulls at hooker in their 2004 Super League Grand Final loss against the Leeds Rhinos. The following year he played for the Bradford Bulls from the interchange bench in their 2005 Super League Grand Final victory against the Leeds Rhinos.

His Bradford Bulls testimonial was played on 27 January 2006 against Hull Kingston Rovers at Odsal Stadium. He has been included in Bradford's; 'Millennium Masters', 'Bull Masters', and in August 2007 he was named in the 'Team of the Century'. Only six players have been included in all three lists. Robbie Paul Voted the 1996 Super League Player of the season at 20 years of age,

Huddersfield Giants

At the start of 2006's Super League XI, Paul moved from Bradford Bulls to fellow West Yorkshire side Huddersfield Giants. He played at scrum half back in his 2006 Challenge Cup Final in August. Despite scoring a second-half try, his side lost 42–12 to St Helens RLFC at Twickenham stadium.

Salford City Reds

In September 2007, it was announced that he had signed for the Salford City Reds on a two-year deal. This was seen as something of a coup for the club, as they had just been relegated from the Super League.

Leigh Centurions

He signed with Co-operative Championship side Leigh Centurions for the 2010 season.^[3] He retired at the end of the 2011 season.

Music

In 2000, alongside his brother Henry and a friend, he released a single with his band Massey, named after the town in New Zealand where the Paul brothers grew up. They had played a couple of dates by the end of 2000 and previously released a cover version of 'Ain't no stopping us now' in 1999.^[4]

Radio

Robbie is the proud host of a weekly rugby league show on West Yorkshire's Pulse 1 Radio Station. The show is hoping to become award winning in the near future.

Television

Robbie Paul regularly appears on BBC's Super League Show

Name change

On 17 December 2010, Robbie married Natalie Hunter in Auckland, New Zealand, at a ceremony attended by many of the world's greatest rugby players and duly changed his surname to incorporate "Hunter".^[5]

References

Bibliography

External links

• Robbie Paul player profile from GiantsRL.com
• NZ Player Profile
• Passion for Sport 2001
• The Millennium Masters – Substitutes
• Bull Masters – Robbie Paul
• Team Of The Century