Scruton has no regrets as Bulls finally see best of Leeds product

Enigmatic half-back Jarrod Sammut is one of the most exciting players in Super League, dashing full-back Brett Kearney has established himself as one of the most piercing while a third Australian – Adrian Purtell – has made a remarkable recovery and return to playing after heart surgery.

Then you could point to their fine crop of maturing youngsters – Danny Addy, James Donaldson, Tom Olbison – and the continued development of two of England’s finest young forwards in Elliott Whitehead and John Bateman.

Perhaps one of the most pleasing aspects to witness, however, is the evolution of Nick Scruton into a prop of such consistent pedigree for Francis Cummins’s side.

There has never been any denying the 28-year-old’s talent – he won a Grand Final and World Club Challenge with Leeds Rhinos – yet a series of injuries baulked his progress after making the switch to their fierce rivals in 2009.

Behind the likes of Jamie Peacock, Kylie Leuluai and Ryan Bailey at Headingley, he moved with the intention of establishing himself as a regular starting prop at Odsal and taking his game to a new level.

It has not been easy especially considering Scruton was also diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes two years ago while coming back from wrist surgery.

However, ahead of tonight’s visit from Leeds, this year’s rich and uninterrupted form where he has charged Bradford forward so consistently, means he is now, undeniably, one of Super League’s top front-rows.

“I had a good pre-season and a first for a few years where I had no surgery or anything like that,” the affable Scruton explained to the Yorkshire Post.

“That set me up well for the campaign ahead. I hit the ground running and it’s just gone from there really.

“I am feeling good and really enjoying my football at Bradford.

“You never go into games thinking you are going to get injured and my first season at Bradford I did play every game so I knew I was capable of it.

“But I just had a bit of bad luck with one thing or another.

“We’ve got some new medical staff this year, though, and they’ve been great. We’ve only got a small squad so they have invested a lot into prevention of injuries.

“They are really looking after us and it’s helped me massively. The physio’s been brilliant.”

Scruton, who came through the Academy ranks of home-town club Leeds, realised this could be a seminal year for him as long ago as last September when his coach outlined the prospective front-row situation for 2013.

“I had a meeting at the end of the season with Franny where he said it looked like this year he’d just be running with me and big Manny (Manuokafoa) plus Jamie Langley as another prop,” he said.

“He didn’t know whether Adam Sidlow was coming at that point so, with just three front-rowers, there was going to be a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.

“I’ve enjoyed that, though, being one of the starting front-line props.

“Adam did come in, too, thankfully, as he’s been brilliant but I’ve loved starting games and looking to set a lead with Manny.

“We’ve played some great football this season and there’s a great spirit here at Bradford.”

It is a question he gets asked a lot but did he ever think he had made a gaffe by leaving Headingley when he had an opportunity to stay?

In the four-and-a-half trophyless years he has experienced at Odsal since then, ruthless Leeds have only cemented their position as the competition’s dominant side.

“At the time, it was definitely the right move,” insisted Scruton.

“Obviously, I didn’t know Leeds were going to go on and win another three Grand Finals but it was still the best thing for me to do. I needed to get more game time and be a starting prop and I’ve never looked back.

“It’d be easy to think ‘what if?’ with Leeds winning all those titles but I’ve loved every minute here at Bradford. They are a great bunch of lads, an awesome set of fans and, for all I was Leeds, I’m a proper Bradford boy now.”

In truth, given stalwarts Peacock and Leuluai remain evergreen in the champions’ side, even now at the age of 35, you can see why Scruton can readily justify his decision.

“JP and Kylie are still there but not only that they are both playing some of their best stuff yet,” he added. “I think I would always have been fourth choice prop at Leeds and, you never know, they could have signed another, too.

“The opportunity came up to start at Bradford and I’m glad I took it.”

Scruton delivered a typically forceful display when the sides met during an epic game at Headingley over Easter.

Tempers frayed when Whitehead dangerously lifted Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Scruton was then floored trying to put a big hit on former team-mate Bailey.

After Peacock was controversially yellow-carded for dissent, Sidlow popped up with a late try to secure a dramatic 18-18 draw but many Leeds supporters believed they were robbed.

“I don’t agree with that,” countered Scruton. “What an awesome game. So many people came up to me afterwards and said that was the best match of the Easter weekend and it was great to see that Leeds/Bradford rivalry back up there.

“People say we were lucky to get a draw at the end but I don’t believe that.

“I thought we were outstanding that night and a draw was probably a fair result.

“I think we can play better, though, and go one better this time with a win. Why not? We’re confident in our abilities.”

For Scruton, in particular, he now has every reason to be.