Carvell to put Bulls doubts to one side in final tilt

ENGLAND prop Garreth Carvell admits changes at the top of Bradford Bulls have left him concerned about his future there before he even officially joins the club.
Garreth CarvellGarreth Carvell
Garreth Carvell

The robust front-row hopes to sign off his Warrington Wolves career with a first Grand Final win in Saturday’s Old Trafford showpiece against Wigan Warriors.

But then Carvell admits he will have to seek some clarification about what is happening at the side he has agreed to join in 2014.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bradford announced in June that the highly-respected former Hull FC player had signed for them on a two-year deal starting once this campaign concluded.

However, owner Omar Khan – who bought the former Super League champions out of administration barely 12 months ago – unexpectedly handed over the reins to general manager Ryan Whitcut and local businessman Mark Moore last week in a move which stunned Carvell.

“I don’t know what’s going on at the minute,” he admitted. “I’d had meetings with them and was assured that everything was okay.

“I was told that Omar was staying but he’s disappeared so I need to chase that up and see what’s going on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s a bit of a strange one but I’m just going to concentrate on what I’m going to do for Warrington. I’ll approach that when I need to.”

The 32-year-old insists he has not looked at reneging on the deal.

“No, not at the minute; I’ve signed and I’m committed to Bradford,” said Carvell.

“With the benefit of hindsight, I thought that everything was fine but obviously it’s not.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I was told and trusted people that tell me these things that everything was fine. I’m hoping that it is.”

Firstly, though, the Yorkshireman is intent on securing a Grand Final winners’ ring which would be the perfect denouement to his five-year career with the Wire.

Carvell – an England ETS member who narrowly missed out on Steve McNamara’s World Cup squad this week – has twice won the Challenge Cup with Warrington, having also lifted that trophy with Hull in 2005.

But a Super League crown is what he desires most, having been surprisingly omitted from the squad that lost to Leeds in the club’s first Grand Final 12 months ago.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He helped ensure they get a second stab by delivering a huge stint in Warrington’s play-off semi-final defeat of Huddersfield Giants and, after an excellent season, is unlikely to be overlooked again by coach Tony Smith.

“It definitely spurred me on what happened back then,” admitted Carvell.

“It was so disappointing not to get picked for the semi and the Grand Final but you learn from these things and you come back stronger.

“You have to take it on the chin and learn from it. That’s all you can do because there is no point in sulking – you do your best for the team in any way you can.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Tony doesn’t just pick people because of their name; he picks people who are playing well and he’s always done that.

“He doesn’t shy away from the big decisions, so if you don’t perform you don’t play and that’s how he gets the best out of his team.”

Morley-born Carvell added: “To be going to another Grand Final is fantastic.

“We were in this position last season but unfortunately we didn’t come away with the goods.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This year we have worked on the conditions and how to close the game out, so hopefully we’ll be better prepared. It would mean so much to win on Saturday. We have a chance now to redeem ourselves.

“Everything has been geared towards making sure we peak at the right time.

“The sports science staff have worked hard with us and we’ve just one more game to prove it has worked.”

Though Smith opted not to renew the player’s contract, preferring to promote some of Warrington’s younger front-rows, Carvell has no issues with the coach’s ruling.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve still got a lot to give but Tony is paid to make these decisions,” he continued. “I’ll stand by him and say that it’s the right one if that’s the way he feels.

“I’ve made Warrington my home since moving here – we aren’t moving back to Leeds – and I didn’t want to leave but it’s just one of those things.”

Ironically, Carvell actually started his career in a Leeds Rhinos Academy side that nurtured many of the players who have gone on to win six Super League titles for his home-town club.

He made his professional debut with them as a 16-year-old in 1997 but made only three more substitute appearances before joining Hull in 2000 where he developed into one of Super League’s finest props.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“At Leeds, I played with the likes of Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Matt Diskin, Ryan Bailey and Danny Ward,” recalled Carvell.

“We won everything in the Academy from the age of about 16, which set a precedent for Leeds.

“They won everything after that but we started it off… that’s what I’m saying anyway!

“I did have a taste of the Grand Final in 2006 with Hull when we got beat by St Helens.

“It’s bitterly disappointing to go all that way and get beaten.

“I don’t want to experience that again.”