Henry Paul was close to tears after bowing out of rugby league in style in Bradford Bulls' remarkable Super League Grand Final victory.

The 27-year-old Kiwi produced an accomplished display and kicked five goals and a drop goal on his 100th appearance for the Bulls.

Paul, who will join up with Gloucester Rugby Union Club this week, said: "At the final whistle I was nearly going to cry. We get a fine if we cry, but I was pretty emotional.

"The whole year has been a roller-coaster ride and the Challenge Cup final defeat was devastating, but we just picked it back up.

"The loss to Warrington in August was really a wake-up call, and so was the loss at Wigan, and we thought maybe it was going to happen like last year, when things were going so well, but we just faded out, though now we have won we will party."

The New Zealander may be an experienced player, but even he is not immune to nerves. He explained: "Before that penalty in the second minute I was shaking in my boots, but after I kicked it I turned round with a big smile and I could see the lift in the boys.

"And I just thought 'Yes', but it was a great team effort - the forwards, even the wingers coming in and helping the forwards out. It is my job to kick them, but the boys played so fast that they got the penalties for me, and Brian Noble has been saying to me all week 'If there is a shot at goal on, then take it', but I missed a couple."

Henry, who missed last Monday's pre-Grand Final press conference at Old Trafford, added: "I have kept a low profile all week because I wanted the focus to be on the team, not individuals."

Bulls coach Noble said: "I had a chat with Henry some eight weeks ago about how he wanted to finish the season - he wanted to go out with something special, and I would like to publicly thank him and Graham Mackay, who is also leaving us to pursue other career interests, and the rest of the team. Henry has been the consumate professional and both of them have made their dreams come true."

When asked about his time in rugby league, Paul said: "I have had a great career with Wakefield, Wigan and now Bradford, and I am joining an adventure with Gloucester rugby union and a team that wants to go somewhere, but this is about us and Bradford and not what happens to me later.

"I might sound subdued, but that is because it is a relief to win. You see the smiles all around - and not just the people in the limelight, but the backroom staff, all the guys in marketing, the girls in the office.

"It is an awesome day for them and our fans, and it has been a long time coming. It is a big team effort, and not just on the field. It is credit to our kit man Fred Robinson, our lunch lady - they make the club tick - so it is a good win for the whole club."

Henry, who ended the season with club records of 208 goals and 457 points - beating his marks of 179 and 404 in 2000 - added: "Wigan weren't poor, they have never been poor. We just caught them around the ruck a few times."

Henry's younger brother, Bulls skipper Robbie, said: "I think Wigan may have had one game too many, not to take anything away from our performance. They looked a little tired. "The emotion you feel when you are defeated is so deep it is gut-wrenching, and it probably doubly hurts for Wigan because they have had back-to-back Grand Final defeats. We have had that in the Challenge Cup and it is not a good place to be, but the high of winning is like a relief, and you have to be a strong man not to let the tears well."