Henry Paul is one of the most successful players in rugby league following his glory years at Wigan. But he is just as keen to add more winners' medals with Bradford Bulls. Sports Editor Alan Birkinshaw talks to the Kiwi international.
YOU WOULD think with eight major honours already to his name that Henry Paul's hunger for success might have been satisfied.
But you only have to talk to the Kiwi stand-off for just a few moments to realise that he still has a voracious appetite for further glory.
At 26 he is already acknowledged as one of the game's outstanding players. He built up a tremendous reputation at Wigan where he won four Premierships, two Regal Trophies, one Super League and one Challenge Cup.
Now he wants to be a winner with Bradford Bulls after the numbing disappointment of last season's Grand Final defeat by St Helens.
Henry was one of the star performers for the Bulls during his first season at Odsal and he has been outstanding again this campaign as they have moved menacingly to the top of Super League and powered to the Challenge Cup final.
The 26-year-old New Zealand international, who has forged such an exciting half-back combination with his younger brother Robbie, said: "I have been lucky to win major honours with Wigan but believe me the more success you have the hungrier you are for more.
"Once you have sampled the taste you want it again. It is wonderful and I want that wonderful feeling again."
Henry is aware that Bradford fans have waited a long time for a Challenge Cup win - 51 years to be precise - but he is aware that the cup can have a horrible habit of springing a nasty upset.
He said: "I know what can happen in finals after last year's Grand Final and the 1998 Challenge Cup final with Wigan when we lost to Sheffield Eagles. I am determined that won't happen to me again. The feeling of defeat is so ghastly."
But he acknowledges that Leeds cannot be dismissed lightly even though they have made such a poor start to their Super League campaign.
"Murrayfield will be a great experience and I am sure it will be an exciting game. Leeds are not quite as good as last year while we have had a great start but this is a one off game and we have to make sure we approach it the right way.
"Of course there is a threat. If we play poorly they have the men who can punish us. Iestyn Harris is the type of player who can make us look fools but he can also be made to play poorly if we don't give him the time and space he likes.
"It is up to us to take the strength away from their good areas and capitalise on the weak ones. If we do we can win the silverware Bradford has waited so long for.
"I want to win a cup for the people who watch us week after week and the coaching staff.
"We are building from last year. Everybody has a positive attitude, we have new players and new training regimes and we are determined to win."
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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