Bradford Bulls bound Danny Brough one of ‘fiercest competitors’ in Super League, says Wakefield Trinity boss Chris Chester

CONSIDERING he sits second on Super League’s all-time point scorers list, it is almost mystifying that Danny Brough has never been an England regular.
Danny Brough.Danny Brough.
Danny Brough.

The veteran half-back has spent the last 16 years of his career in the top flight and will depart Wakefield Trinity at the end of the season after agreeing a two-year deal with Championship side Bradford Bulls.

The 37-year-old from Dewsbury has spent the majority of his time on the international stage with Scotland, qualifying for the Bravehearts through his grandfather.

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He made his Scotland debut in 2004 but was still eligible for England and did feature in an International Origin fixture, between England and the Exiles – a selection of overseas Super League players – in 2012.

He was named the Man of Steel in 2013 as Huddersfield Giants won the League Leaders’ Shield but was shockingly omitted from the England squad for the Rugby League World Cup in autumn of the same year.

He got the call to play for Scotland and his head coach Chris Chester feels the half-back has been unfortunate to never play for England at a World Cup.

“I have known him for a long time and we played together, he has been one of the best scrum-halves this country has had for the last 15 to 20 years,” said Chester after the pair were part of the Hull FC side who won the Challenge Cup in 2005 with victory over Leeds Rhinos.

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“He is a Man of Steel winner, he has captained Scotland and has probably been unlucky to have never played regularly for England.

“The guy is one of the biggest competitors I have seen on a training pitch and a rugby pitch.”

Brough is in his testimonial year and had a testimonial match against Hull KR during Trinity’s pre-season preparations.

Chester hailed the half-back, who even had a spell with Castleford Tigers, as one of the “fiercest competitors” to ever play in Super League.

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“The year he got the Man of Steel, he was unplayable but he has been consistent over a number of years,” added the Wakefield head coach.

“He is the fiercest and best competitor I have seen, he wants to win everything.

“Whether that is cards with the boys, a game of golf or touch and pass.

“He has been a great servant for Wakefield Trinity and for Huddersfield and a real good servant for the game.

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“It takes some doing to play the amount of games Danny has played and to play the majority of those in the top flight, it is something special.

“I am pleased we managed to get him a testimonial game and his year has obviously not gone as he would have hoped, with everything that’s gone on, but I’m glad we got the game in there for Danny.”

It is unclear if Brough will play for Wakefield again as he awaits hip surgery which could rule him out for the remainder of the season, which is set to resume again next month.

A selection of Trinity players are set to return to training on Monday after having their first round of coronavirus testing this week.

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Chester won’t be bringing back any player who is injured, such as Joe Arundel who is out for the season with an ACL problem.

Players will initially train in smaller groups, with Wakefield’s revised league fixtures expected to be released today.

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