# 2006 Bradford Bulls season

This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2006 season, the 11th season of the Super League era.

## 2006 milestones

* WCC: Marcus Bai and Stanley Gene scored their 1st tries for the Bulls.
* Round 1: Paul Deacon reached 1,700 points for the Bulls.
* Round 5: Marcus St Hilaire scored his 1st try for the Bulls.
* Round 7: Chris McKenna scored his 1st try for the Bulls.
* Round 10: Terry Newton scored his 1st try for the Bulls.
* Round 12: Stanley Gene scored his 1st hat-trick for the Bulls.
* Round 12: Brett Ferres kicked his 1st goal for the Bulls.
* Round 16: Paul Deacon reached 1,800 points for the Bulls.
* Round 19: Karl Pryce scored his 25th try and reached 100 points for the Bulls.
* Round 20: Karl Pryce scored his 2nd hat-trick for the Bulls.
* Round 23: Lesley Vainikolo scored his 125th try and reached 500 points for the Bulls.
* Round 23: Paul Deacon kicked his 800th goal for the Bulls.
* Round 25: Jamie Langley scored his 25th try and reached 100 points for the Bulls.
* Round 25: Paul Deacon reached 1,900 points for the Bulls.
* Round 28: Sam Burgess scored his 1st try for the Bulls.
* EPO: Shontayne Hape scored his 1st four-try haul and 4th hat-trick for the Bulls.
* ESF: Michael Withers scored his 8th hat-trick for the Bulls.
* ESF: Michael Withers reached 500 points for the Bulls.

## Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | St Helens (L, C) | 28 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 939 | 430 | +509 | 48 | Semi-final |
| 2 | Hull F.C. | 28 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 720 | 578 | +142 | 40 | Semi-final |
| 3 | Leeds Rhinos | 28 | 19 | 0 | 9 | 869 | 543 | +326 | 38 | Elimination play-offs |
| 4 | Bradford Bulls | 28 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 802 | 568 | +234 | 32 | Elimination play-offs |
| 5 | Salford City Reds | 28 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 600 | 539 | +61 | 26 | Elimination play-offs |
| 6 | Warrington Wolves | 28 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 743 | 721 | +22 | 26 | Elimination play-offs |
| 7 | Harlequins | 28 | 11 | 1 | 16 | 556 | 823 | −267 | 23 | |
| 8 | Wigan Warriors | 28 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 644 | 715 | −71 | 22 | |
| 9 | Huddersfield Giants | 28 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 609 | 753 | −144 | 22 | |
| 10 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 28 | 10 | 0 | 18 | 591 | 717 | −126 | 20 | |
| 11 | Castleford Tigers (R) | 28 | 9 | 1 | 18 | 575 | 968 | −393 | 19 | Relegation to National League One |
| 12 | Catalans Dragons (X) | 28 | 8 | 0 | 20 | 601 | 894 | −293 | 16 | |
* ↑ Bradford deducted 2 points for salary cap breaches in 2005.
* ↑ Wigan deducted 2 points for salary cap breaches in 2005.

## World Club Challenge

LEGEND :
* Win
* Draw
* Loss
| Date | Competition | Vrs | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Att |
| 3 February 2006 | WCC | Wests Tigers | N | McAlpine Stadium | W | 30–10 | Bai (2), Fielden (2), Gene | I.Harris 5/6 | 19,207 |
2006 World Club Challenge Teams :
| Bradford Bulls | positions | Wests Tigers |
| 1. Michael Withers | Fullback | 1. Brett Hodgson |
| 2. Marcus Bai | Winger | 2. Shannon McDonnell |
| 3. Ben Harris | Centre | 3. Dean Collis |
| 4. Shontayne Hape | Centre | 4. Paul Whatuira |
| 5. Lesley Vainikolo | Winger | 5. Jamahl Lolesi |
| 17. Karl Pryce | Stand off | 6. Daniel Fitzhenry |
| 6. Iestyn Harris | Scrum half | 7. Scott Prince |
| 29. Stuart Fielden | Prop | 17. Ryan O'Hara |
| 9. Ian Henderson | Hooker | 9. Robbie Farah |
| 14. Andy Lynch | Prop | 10. John Skandalis |
| 10. Brad Meyers | 2nd Row | 11. Anthony Laffranchi |
| 12. Paul Johnson | 2nd Row | 12. Chris Heighington |
| 16. Jamie Langley | Loose forward | 13. Ben Galea |
| 8. Joe Vagana | Interchange | 8. Bryce Gibbs |
| 15. Stanley Gene | Interchange | 14. Liam Fulton |
| 19. Brett Ferres | Interchange | 15. Bronson Harrison |
| 20. Matt Cook | Interchange | 16. Sam Harris |
| Brian Noble | Coach | Tim Sheens |

## 2006 fixtures and results

Legend :
* Win
* Draw
* Loss
2006 Engage Super League
| Date | Competition | Rnd | Vrs | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Att |
| 12 February 2006 | Super League XI | 1 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | A | Belle Vue | W | 20–14 | Gene, Hape, I.Harris | Deacon 4/4 | 9,157 |
| 18 February 2006 | Super League XI | 2 | Harlequins RL | H | Odsal Stadium | D | 18–18 | Hape, B.Harris, Henderson | Deacon 3/5 | 11,097 |
| 24 February 2006 | Super League XI | 3 | Salford City Reds | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 34–4 | I.Harris (2), Fielden, Gene, Hape, Meyers | Deacon 4/5, I.Harris 1/1 | 10,062 |
| 4 March 2006 | Super League XI | 4 | Catalans Dragons | A | Stade Aime Giral | W | 50–18 | Hape (2), Lynch (2), Bai, Fielden, B.Harris, Langley, Smith | Deacon 7/9 | 9,373 |
| 10 March 2006 | Super League XI | 5 | Hull F.C. | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 18–12 | Vainikolo (2), Pryce, St Hilaire | Deacon 1/4 | 10,700 |
| 17 March 2006 | Super League XI | 6 | St. Helens | A | Knowsley Road | L | 16–38 | Hape (2), B.Harris | Deacon 2/3 | 12,352 |
| 24 March 2006 | Super League XI | 7 | Wigan Warriors | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 34–12 | Bai, Hape, B.Harris, Lynch, McKenna, Pryce, Vainikolo | I.Harris 3/7 | 11,644 |
| 8 April 2006 | Super League XI | 8 | Warrington Wolves | H | Odsal Stadium | L | 18–22 | Pryce (2), B.Harris, Vagana | Deacon 1/4 | 11,136 |
| 13 April 2006 | Super League XI | 9 | Leeds Rhinos | A | Headingley Stadium | W | 20–18 | Bai, Ferres, Gene, I.Harris | Deacon 2/4 | 17,700 |
| 18 April 2006 | Super League XI | 10 | Huddersfield Giants | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 52–18 | Vainikolo (2), Bai, Deacon, Fielden, Hape, Johnson, Newton, Pryce | Deacon 8/9 | 10,932 |
| 23 April 2006 | Super League XI | 11 | Warrington Wolves | A | Halliwell Jones Stadium | L | 4–27 | Bai | Deacon 0/1 | 10,822 |
| 28 April 2006 | Super League XI | 12 | Catalans Dragons | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 54–6 | Gene (3), B.Harris (2), Bai, Ferres, Hape, Lynch, Vainikolo | I.Harris 5/7, Ferres 2/2, Vainikolo 0/1 | 10,522 |
| 5 May 2006 | Super League XI | 13 | Hull F.C. | A | KC Stadium | L | 12–28 | Pryce, Withers | I.Harris 2/2 | 12,180 |
| 13 May 2006 | Super League XI | 14 | Harlequins RL | A | Twickenham Stoop | W | 58–16 | Hape (2), Lynch (2), Vainikolo (2), Bai, Fielden, Pryce, St Hilaire | Deacon 9/10 | 4,491 |
| 26 May 2006 | Super League XI | 15 | Leeds Rhinos | H | Odsal Stadium | L | 0–30 | – | – | 16,603 |
| 11 June 2006 | Super League XI | 16 | Castleford Tigers | A | The Jungle | D | 26–26 | Newton (2), Deacon, Hape, Withers | Deacon 3/5 | 7,600 |
| 16 June 2006 | Super League XI | 17 | St. Helens | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 20–18 | Deacon (2), Vainikolo | Deacon 4/6 | 12,450 |
| 23 June 2006 | Super League XI | 18 | Huddersfield Giants | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 42–16 | Ferres (2), B.Harris (2), Vainikolo (2), Meyers | Deacon 7/7 | 10,655 |
| 30 June 2006 | Super League XI | 19 | Salford City Reds | A | The Willows | L | 16–17 | Ferres, I.Harris, Pryce | Deacon 2/3 | 4,203 |
| 7 July 2006 | Super League XI | 20 | Leeds Rhinos | A | Headingley Stadium | L | 24–26 | Pryce (3), St Hilaire | Deacon 4/5 | 17,700 |
| 14 July 2006 | Super League XI | 21 | Catalans Dragons | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 30–16 | St Hilaire (2), Vainikolo (2), Ferres | Deacon 5/6 | 10,388 |
| 21 July 2006 | Super League XI | 22 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | A | Belle Vue | W | 42–20 | Langley (2), Pryce (2), Hape, Henderson, Vainikolo | Deacon 7/8 | 4,003 |
| 4 August 2006 | Super League XI | 23 | Warrington Wolves | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 50–22 | Newton (2), Gene, Hape, Lynch, Meyers, Pryce, Vagana, Vainikolo | Deacon 7/9 | 11,469 |
| 12 August 2006 | Super League XI | 24 | Harlequins RL | A | Twickenham Stoop | L | 26–28 | Bai, Deacon, Ferres, Hape, Vainikolo | Deacon 3/5 | 3,793 |
| 18 August 2006 | Super League XI | 25 | Castleford Tigers | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 48–10 | B.Harris (2), Pryce (2), Ferres, Langely, Meyers, McKenna, Vainikolo | Deacon 6/9 | 10,576 |
| 1 September 2006 | Super League XI | 26 | Wigan Warriors | A | JJB Stadium | L | 16–38 | Lynch, Pryce, Withers | Deacon 2/3 | 15,830 |
| 8 September 2006 | Super League XI | 27 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | H | Odsal Stadium | L | 12–20 | Withers (2) | Deacon 2/2 | 9,451 |
| 17 September 2006 | Super League XI | 28 | Huddersfield Giants | A | Galpharm Stadium | W | 42–30 | St Hilaire (2), Withers (2), Bai, Burgess, Hape | Deacon 7/7 | 7,002 |

## Challenge Cup

Legend :
* Win
* Draw
* Loss
| Date | Competition | Rnd | Vrs | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Att |
| 1 April 2006 | Cup | 4th | Hull F.C. | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 23–12 | Bai, Gene, Hape, Langley | Deacon 3/6, Deacon 1 DG | 7,705 |
| 20 May 2006 | Cup | 5th | St. Helens | A | Knowsley Road | L | 18–42 | Withers (2), Vagana | Deacon 3/3 | 10,374 |

## Playoffs

Legend :
* Win
* Draw
* Loss
| Date | Competition | Rnd | Vrs | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Att |
| 23 September 2006 | Play-offs | EPO | Salford City Reds | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 52–6 | Hape (4), Burgess, Ferres, Lynch, McKenna, Withers | Deacon 8/9 | 8,611 |
| 30 September 2006 | Play-offs | ESF | Warrington Wolves | H | Odsal Stadium | W | 40–24 | Withers (3), Deacon (2), Vainikolo | Deacon 8/8 | 12,302 |
| 6 October 2006 | Play-offs | SF | Hull F.C. | A | KC Stadium | L | 12–19 | Ferres, Langley | Deacon 2/2 | 16,087 |

## 2006 squad statistics

* Appearances and points include (Super League, Challenge Cup and playoffs) as of 2012.
| No | Player | Position | Tries | Goals | DG | Points |
| 1 | Michael Withers | Fullback | 13 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
| 2 | Marcus Bai | Wing | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| 3 | Ben Harris | Centre | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 4 | Shontayne Hape | Centre | 22 | 0 | 0 | 88 |
| 5 | Lesley Vainikolo | Wing | 18 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| 6 | Iestyn Harris | Stand off | 5 | 16 | 0 | 52 |
| 7 | Paul Deacon | Scrum-half | 7 | 124 | 1 | 277 |
| 8 | Joe Vagana | Prop | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 9 | Ian Henderson | Hooker | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 10 | Brad Meyers | Prop | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 11 | Chris McKenna | Second row | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 12 | Paul Johnson | Second row | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 13 | Terry Newton | Hooker | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 14 | Andy Lynch | Prop | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 15 | Stanley Gene | Loose forward | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 16 | Jamie Langley | Loose forward | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 17 | Karl Pryce | Wing | 17 | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| 18 | Adam Watene | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Brett Ferres | Second row | 10 | 2 | 0 | 44 |
| 20 | Matt Cook | Second row | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Nicky Saxton | Fullback | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Ryan Atkins | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Anthony Tonks | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Matty Brooks | Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Matt James | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Dave Halley | Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Craig Kopczak | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Stuart Fielden | Prop | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 30 | Sam Burgess | Loose forward | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 31 | Marcus St Hilaire | Fullback | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 32 | Andy Smith | Wing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |