Bradford Bulls 28 Catalan Dragons 34: Bradford strugglers undone by returning Menzies

IF AUSTRALIA suffer an injury-crisis while on tour this autumn and need to call upon one of their locally based countrymen, they need look no further than Steve Menzies.

He featured for the Kangaroos the last time England played at Wembley in the 1995 World Cup final, the only player from either side still operating to this day.

It was announced last week that the old foes will return there on November 5 in the Four Nations and, if his performance for Catalan on Saturday is anything to gage by, even approaching the age of 38, the stellar second-row would still prove as big an attraction as Greg Inglis.

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Pressed into action at stand-off due to Setaimata Sa’s injury – although such is his innate ease on a rugby pitch it seems he is rarely pressed into anything – Menzies made his first return to Bradford and swiftly dented his former club’s slim play-off chances.

The Odsal powers-that-be will be ruing letting the ex-Manly star go at the end of last season; how they required someone of his poise, panache and effortless guile.

When Catalan were reduced to 12 men on 46 minutes following David Ferriol’s red card for a brutal high tackle on James Donaldson, the hosts really should not have had any problem following up their gutsy win at Leeds.

Patrick Ah Van levelled at 12-12 from the resultant penalty before the towering Tom Burgess enhanced his growing reputation by barging over six minutes later for Ah Van to make it 18-12.

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However, instead, resilient Catalan re-discovered the exuberant style of football which has seen them rise to joint-fourth in Super League.

Menzies, whose slick handling had been influential in first-half tries for Clint Greenshields and Damien Blanch, would be expected to be one of those tiring first when a man short due to his veteran status.

But, having already produced a try-saving tackle on a runaway Ben Jeffries, the ageless New South Wales hero stood up to deliver more of the magic that has underscored his freakish career.

“The old dog,” Bulls prop Craig Kopczak told the Yorkshire Post after his former team-mate had wrecked his 100th appearance for his hometown club.

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“What can you say about him? Steve Menzies is Steve Menzies.

“He’s a just a quality player and any team in the world would have them in their side he’s going so well.

“Beaver almost got in the Exiles and wouldn’t look out of place in the Four Nations; he’s just playing outstanding.

“I played with him for the last two years here and now I’ve played against him.

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“It’s great to be able to say I have done both. He’s class.”

A brilliant pass from Menzies during a breathtaking raid led to another ex-Bradford star – Ian Henderson – slicing over from dummy half although the defence close to their line was abysmal.

Scott Dureau, who had missed all three of his previous kicks, converted to level but Brett Kearney thought he had struck straight back when he stretched over following a mesmerising run by Matt Diskin.

However, the Australian full-back was rightly denied due to a double movement when more patience would almost certainly have resulted in a score.

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Instead, seconds later, Menzies’s class prevailed to open up his former employers once more, a vintage shimmying run at the line and squeezed off-load seeing Lopini Paea and Greenshields combine for Dureau to touch down.

Soon after, Blanch raced 50m for his second after Jeffries’s wild pass in centre field and, although the Bulls stand-off earned a reprieve with a solo effort of his own, more woeful defence allowed Daryl Millard to escape down the left and Greenshields to finish.

Gareth Raynor produced a chip-and-chase to score down the left touchline just before the hooter but it proved in vain.

Bradford – who had forged ahead through ex-Catalan captain Olivier Elima’s powerful try and led 10-8 at the break following Ah Van’s conversion and two penalties – remain tenth, three points off the play-offs ahead of Sunday’s difficult trip to Castleford.

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“It was pretty embarrassing really,” admitted Kopczak, Sebastien Raguin having also scored a soft try in the 43rd minute.

“Obviously, when Catalan went down to 12 men they raised their performance and we just didn’t respond.

“We got what we deserved.”

Bradford coach Mick Potter acknowledged the contribution of Menzies and admitted the dismissal provided a turning point in the match.

“Steve is a quality player and he showed what he can do today,” said Potter, who coached the Dragons from 2006-08.

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“Both teams made too many errors in the first half. We didn’t get much better in the second half but the other team did. They were stung into action with the sending-off.

“Perhaps we thought they would tire with 12 men but they found more enthusiasm. Our mentality was wrong.

“We were far from our best, the players are better than they showed today.”

Bulls fans had given Menzies a rousing reception when he entered the Odsal arena.

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Despite what he subsequently did to their side, the send-off was even louder when he left at the end clutching his man-of-the-match champagne; they had witnessed a living legend in action, possibly for the last time on their turf. Although, probably not.

Bradford Bulls: Kearney; Crookes, Ah Van, Platt, Raynor; Jeffries, Herbert; Lynch, Diskin, Hargreaves, Elima, Whitehead, Kopczak. Substitutes: Scruton, Donaldson, Addy, Burgess.

Catalan Dragon: Greenshields; Blanch, Baile, Millard, Vaccari; Menzies, Dureau; Ferriol, Henderson, Fakir, Raguin, Paea, Mounis. Substitutes: Casty, Martins, Baitieri, Pelissier.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington)

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