Robert Rawiri 'Robbie' Hunter-Paul (born 3 February 1976) is a former New Zealand rugby league player. He currently works in the marketing department at Super League side Huddersfield Giants after retiring as a player at the end of the 2011 season following two years with Leigh Centurions. He played for the New Zealand national team 27 times. He is the younger brother of Leeds Carnegie player Henry Paul.
[edit] Early years
Born in Tokoroa, New Zealand, his junior club was the Te Atatu Roosters in West Auckland. He currently lives in West Yorkshire.
In the 1994 Lion Red Cup he played 11 games for the Waitakere City Raiders, scoring three tries.[1]
[edit] Name change
On 17 December 2010, Robbie married Natalie Hunter in Auckland, New Zealand, at a ceremony attended by many of the world’s greatest rugby players and duly changed his surname to incorporate "Hunter".[2]
[edit] Bradford Bulls
Paul joined Bradford in July 1994 from New Zealand at the age of 18 and has since gone on to represent his country. In 1996, he became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley, doing so against St Helens, in a performance that earned him the Lance Todd Trophy as Man of the Match.
He captained the Bulls to the "Treble" in 2003 and to victory against Australian side Penrith in the 2004 World Club Challenge. His Bradford Bulls testimonial was played on 27 January 2006 against Hull Kingston Rovers at Odsal Stadium. He has been included in Bradford's; 'Millennium Masters', 'Bull Masters', and in August 2007 he was named in the 'Team Of The Century'. Only six players have been included in all three lists.[citation needed]
[edit] Harlequins RU
Robbie Paul Voted the 1996 Super League Player of the season at 20 years of age, went into his winter loan spell with Harlequins R.U. team aiming to improve his game, also to promote and give links for both RL-RU transfers for the 1997 season, Also used like in the 13 man code of being a franchise player he was given the opportunity of being part of NEC Harlequins not only for a loan spell, also to promote rugby league to the masses of the 15 man code.
[edit] Huddersfield Giants
At the start of the 2006 Super League season (Super League XI), he moved from Bradford Bulls to fellow West Yorkshire side Huddersfield Giants. He went on to appear in his sixth Challenge Cup Final in August 2006. Despite scoring a second-half try, Huddersfield Giants lost 42-12 to St Helens at Twickenham.
[edit] Salford City Reds
In September 2007, it was announced that he had signed for the Salford City Reds on a two year deal. This was seen as something of a coup for the club, as they had just been relegated from the Super League.[citation needed]
[edit] Leigh Centurions
He signed with Co-operative Championship side Leigh Centurions for the 2010 season.[3]. He retired at the end of the 2011 season.
In 2000, alongside his brother Henry and a friend, he released a single with his band Massey, named after the town in New Zealand where the Paul brothers grew up. They had played a couple of dates by the end of 2000 and previously released a cover version of 'Ain't no stopping us now' in 1999.[4]
[edit] Television
Robbie Paul regularly appears on BBC's Super League Show
[edit] References
- Bibliography
- Hodgson, Phil. Odsal Odysseys - The History of Bradford Rugby League. Skipton, North Yorkshire, UK: Vertical Edition, 2006. ISBN 1-904-09114-8.
[edit] External links
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Bradford Bulls Championships
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Paul, Robbie |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
3 February 1976 |
| Place of birth |
Tokoroa, New Zealand |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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