Graeme Bradley
Encyclopedia
Graeme Bradley is an Australia
n former professional rugby league
footballer. He played for the Illawarra Steelers
, Penrith Panthers
and the St. George Dragons
in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
(NSWRL) as well as the Castleford Tigers
and Bradford Bulls
in England.
Bradley played junior football with Oatley RSL, New South Wales. Bradley entered first-grade after Illawarra Steelers' coach, Brian Smith
, signed him to the club in 1985. Smith had been Bradley's school-teacher. He spent three years with the Steelers before moving to the Penrith Panthers.
The Panthers reached back-to-back grand finals, in 1990 and 1991. Bradley was named on the bench for the 1991 grand final and although he spent 40 minutes warming up on the sidelines, coach Phil Gould
did not send Bradley on. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
which was lost to Wigan. After this he followed former Steelers coach Brian Smith
to the St George Dragons. Bradley played in two grand finals for St George in 1992 and 1993. When Brian Smith
left Australia to coach the Bradford Bulls
in the newly formed Super League
he signed Graeme, and he spent 3 successful years there, including winning the 1997 Super League Championship. He Retired following the 1998 Season.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. He played for the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
, Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
and the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
(NSWRL) as well as the Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
and Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in England.
Bradley played junior football with Oatley RSL, New South Wales. Bradley entered first-grade after Illawarra Steelers' coach, Brian Smith
Brian Smith (rugby league)
Brian Smith is an Australian coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. Smith played for St. George and South Sydney Rabbitohs , appearing in a total of 31 first grade games...
, signed him to the club in 1985. Smith had been Bradley's school-teacher. He spent three years with the Steelers before moving to the Penrith Panthers.
The Panthers reached back-to-back grand finals, in 1990 and 1991. Bradley was named on the bench for the 1991 grand final and although he spent 40 minutes warming up on the sidelines, coach Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
did not send Bradley on. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
1991 World Club Challenge
The 1991 World Club Challenge was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday the 2nd of October, 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool...
which was lost to Wigan. After this he followed former Steelers coach Brian Smith
Brian Smith (rugby league)
Brian Smith is an Australian coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. Smith played for St. George and South Sydney Rabbitohs , appearing in a total of 31 first grade games...
to the St George Dragons. Bradley played in two grand finals for St George in 1992 and 1993. When Brian Smith
Brian Smith (rugby league)
Brian Smith is an Australian coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. Smith played for St. George and South Sydney Rabbitohs , appearing in a total of 31 first grade games...
left Australia to coach the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in the newly formed Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
he signed Graeme, and he spent 3 successful years there, including winning the 1997 Super League Championship. He Retired following the 1998 Season.