Bull Masters - Scott Naylor
When pondering about the attributes required by a truly great Rugby League Centre we think of the following. Speed, being a pre-requisite, along with good quick hands, a positional sense where the Centre instinctively knows where and when to support the ball carrier either on the inside or outside, good footwork, being able to draw a man and pass and always being on the lookout for scoring opportunities and not being afraid to take them when offered. Combine these talents with a physical presence and a quick turn of pace and you have the complete Centre. Both Centre representatives in the Bradford team of the century Ernest Ward "the prince of Centres" and Shontayne "Champagne" Hape had most of the above in abundance. Ward perhaps lacked a little on the physical side while Shontayne may have lacked a little on the handling skills. Yet Scott Naylor managed to collect a complete set of Super League, Challenge Cup, World Club Challenge winner's medals and three international caps without being blessed with any of those talents in great quantities.
Scott Naylor started playing Rugby League with his local amateur club Leigh Miners Rangers before being signed by neighbouring mega club Wigan. Unfortunately his experience at Central Park didn't quite work out and saw him make only two appearances in two seasons, one of which was from the bench. He then moved to Salford where he soon formed a lethal partnership with Nathan McAvoy and picked-up two successive titles outside Super League. When Salford did move up to Super League they finished a creditable sixth with some stunning performance, such as defeating the then champions, St Helens. His performances didn't go unnoticed by Matthew Elliott who brought both players to Odsal for the 1999 campaign. Scott made his debut partnering Tavita Vaikona in a 92-0 thrashing of luckless Workington Town in a Challenge Cup 4th round match at Odsal where his former Salford colleague was partnered by Nick Zisti.
Scott instantly became a regular member of the team playing thirty one games in his first season finishing the campaign with the disappointment of a Grand Final defeat against St Helens. Whilst Scott was just as bitterly disappointed as the rest of the squad, however he had the satisfaction of out playing Paul Newlove, has he had done in all encounters that year, which was not a mean feat by any means! In subsequent years Scott continued to ‘bottle up' the danger of Super League's most dangerous centre. His defensive ability easily compensated for any deficiencies in other departments.
Scott Naylor had all the qualities to be a great centre but would never claim to have any in profusion. If fact his team mates would joke, stating he was slower than the forwards! Nevertheless those who were present at Old Trafford in 2001 will remember a terrific break made by our Lancastrian centre, one that showed great vision and a turn of speed, to outfox his Wigan opposite number and send Mick Withers on his way to score. Scott had that knack of knowing when and where to attack the opponents' defence and his handling of World renowned Steve Renouf in that game was of the highest class. His much trumpeted opponent could not cope with Scott's sheer physical presence and was reduced to a moaning passenger for most of the game.
In the 2003 Challenge Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium, he put behind him the disappointment of being dropped the night before the game and was thoroughly professional in all aspects of his preparation. It was a tribute to him that when Mick Withers was forced to pull out with a groin injury early the following morning, Scott not only stepped in and played in a game he thought he wouldn't but his strong defence was evident for all to see as the Rhinos, with a plethora of possession in the last ten minutes, hammered the Bulls line only to be repelled by the resilient Bulls defence at every opportunity. Again Scott showed his aptitude for big games with his handling of Gt. Britain Centre Keith Senior, who was never given a sniff by his opposite number.
Scott's final campaign with the Bulls was the treble winning season of 2003 when he played in 31 of the 34 matches scoring nine tries. His last of 148 appearances in the Bradford colours was in a 22-18 away win against St Helen in the last regular fixture of the season, playing in the unfamiliar second row position due to an ‘injury crisis' amongst the forwards. Sadly he picked up an injury that was to deny him a place in the Grand Final but his place in Bulls history is assured and anyone lucky enough to have been at Old Trafford on that October night in 2001 will remember his performance for the rest of their life.
Martin Bass