Bradford Bulls 34 Hull KR 12: Bulls help Purtell ease his way back into action

Odsal rose as one to acclaim the Bradford Bulls centre who entered the field as a replacement for Nick Scruton and resumed his career 10 months after suffering a heart attack which many thought would curtail his playing days.

When asked if he felt the moment would ever arrive, the Australian conceded: “There was times at the start when I did think like that.

“But I’ve been training hard now for the last three months.

“I’ve always had this goal to get back playing and I’m just glad now I’ve got that game out of the way.

“Now we can focus on Bradford as a team – who are playing really well – and put my misfortune of 10 months ago behind us.”

It was last May when Purtell endured breathing difficulties on the team coach coming back from their Magic Weekend game against Leeds Rhinos in Manchester.

It emerged the 28-year-old had suffered a heart attack and he underwent surgery and began the long road back to fitness.

Yesterday, as he played his part in a convincing win which sees Bradford remain in the lofty position of third, that all came to fruition.

“It was awesome to be back,” admitted Purtell, given his chance with Bulls coach Francis Cummins missing four injured players who had featured in the previous week’s draw at Widnes.

“Things probably worked out in my favour with those players not able to play this week.

“But by the time I was on the field the boys had really laid the platform with the start they’d made.

“It was pretty easy to slot into a game like that. The boys really dug in deep.”

Bradford certainly did. They had the game sewn up by half-time as they ran in five tries to lead 26-6, continuously capitalising on Hull KR’s litany of errors.

Their opponents, seeking a third successive win, recovered a little after the break without ever getting to grips with this contest and it allowed Purtell a perfect passage back.

On his own fitness, he continued: “I felt fine.

“Contact wise, I only tackled somebody for the first time this week so that was a bit out but that’s going to come with games and I’m just glad I got the opportunity to play (yesterday).”

The ex-Penrith Panthers player did not actually get his hands on the ball until the second period, but he then made a couple of strong carries, produced a slick pass and absorbed himself in his defensive work.

Had there been a sleepless night on Saturday?

“I wasn’t too bad actually,” he said. “I just watched a couple of movies and tried to get into old habits.

“It’s been a while since I’ve played so I’d forgotten what I did the night before a game, but I had a pretty good sleep and was raring to go when I got in.

“The fans’ reaction was overwhelming though. The support that I’ve received from when it first happened right up until now from all parts of rugby league – fans from other clubs, fans from home, our own supporters have been awesome – has been great.

“The club’s stood by me and Franny too and hopefully I can repay that over the rest of the season.”

Bradford, with Danny Addy 
maturing nicely at half-back, James Donaldson an energetic performer and Scruton charging up front, rarely had to work too hard for their spoils as they made the most of some lacklustre performances in the away ranks.

Evan Tuimavave was one of the worst Rovers offenders, losing the ball to gift Bradford position for their fifth-minute opener through the recalled Jamie Foster, before being penalised for dissent to further encourage the hosts.

But there were others too, Corey Paterson kicking a restart out on the full, Alex Brown letting a kick bounce dangerously in front of his own posts and such like.

Con Mika then coughed up more ball, but Elliot Kear was still allowed to palm down Danny 
Addy’s crossfield kick too easily for Brett Kearney to score his ninth try in just seven games.

Kear got one himself as did John Bateman, the England Academy second-row playing his first game of the season after shoulder surgery, when the excellent Addy cleverly chipped early in the tackle count.

Straight from the restart, Rovers’ right-side defence melted again for Jarrod Sammut to score in the 32nd minute, but it was not until the 64th minute that Bulls crossed again when the little maverick dummied three times before slicing through.

Foster finished with five goals while Rovers were limited to tries from David Hodgson, on his 350th career appearance, and namesake Josh on his return from a ban, both converted by Michael Dobson, but that sloppy start undid them.

“That was possibly my fault,” said coach Craig Sandercock.

“We had three boys who were ill and didn’t train all week, a few more busted and I made the decision to play them.

“They weren’t their best, that’s for sure, so I take the blame for playing those boys.

“You saw the performance in that first half. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough.”

Bradford: Bulls Kearney; Kear, Whitehead, Lulia, Foster; Addy, Sammut; Scruton, L’Estrange, Manuokafoa, Bateman, Olbison, Donaldson. Substitutes: Purtell, O’Brien, Murphy, Sidlow.

Hull KR: Eden; Brown, Salter, Welham, D Hodgson; Burns, Dobson; Tuimavave, Carlile, Lovegrove, Mika, Paterson, Griffin. Substitutes: J Hodgson, Walker, Horne, Paea.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).