In this week's "Getting To Know", I had the opportunity to speak to Bradford's number 24, Alex Mellor, (pictured tackling on the left), who was kind enough to answer a few questions for me via email, telling us stories from his childhood, his teammates and the season so far.
Here's what we talked about-
Hi Alex. First of all I'd like to thank you again for doing this in your spare time, I appreciate it!
I always like to start the interviews by asking about the player's childhood. So, talk me me about rugby while growing up?
As for growing up I started playing rugby at the age of 11 due to me becoming good mates with a guy at high school and me going to the club he was at which was king cross park in Halifax. I was a tall, skinny, young lad but as soon as I started playing I loved the game and from around 13 this inspired me to go to the gym on a regular basis. I played for king cross until I was 16 and signed for Bradford from there, but along the way we won numerous trophies including the Yorkshire cup!
As a young player, did any professional players inspire you?
Although I never really got much chance to watch him and he wasn't my position, my role model used to be Darren Lockyer. I loved the way he went about the game, he was so committed and focused. Also his flare with unreal meaning - he could come up with something out of the ordinary. As a forward I also liked watching Jamie Peacock just for brute strength and desire. Plus he always liked to throw his fists around so was great to watch!
So your current club and only club so far in your career are the Bradford Bulls. How were you picked up by the Bulls? You were involved in the Bulls' scholarship system, right? How did that happen?
I was scouted for the bulls whilst on an u13 Yorkshire camp and from there I was asked to join them on a scholarship at u14 level. I then did 3 years at scholarship and along the way I turned down offers to go elsewhere just because I loved the culture at the club and enjoyed my time being around the place. I played for the scholarship as captain at u15 and u16 levels and from there went on to sign a part time contract to enable me to play at academy level.
Do you remember your debut for the Bradford Bulls? Do you remember what it felt like to run out onto the pitch with the first team and to play for and in front of thousands of fans?
Yeah I remember it as though it was yesterday! I was still a part time player, in the process of going full time but my contract had not yet started. The game was on a Sunday and on the Friday I got a call saying I would be 18th man and to come to training with the first team in the morning. So then on the Sunday morning I woke up early to a call from Franny [Bradford coach, Francis Cummins] saying I would be playing due to a massively unforeseen circumstance. I was a bag of nerves all day and sat on the bench was even worse. Towards the end of the game I came on for a 10 minute spell and as soon as I stepped foot on the pitch the nerves were gone and I really enjoyed the day and the experience!
So, onto this season. What was pre-season like for the Bradford Bulls? Were there any main focuses in pre-season to improve the team's games?
This was my first pre-season so I found it particularly tough! At some points you are mentally close to falling off the edge of a cliff but have to use all your mental strength to carry on. Fans see 80 minutes on the pitch but no one sees the amount of effort you have to put in for months on end, doing 6 days a week pushing your body to the limit. I was a wreck in pre-season, my body was in bits but I got in good shape and felt good for the start of the season. Our team goals were all about attitude and taking desire into every game we played.
Was pre-season a bit of a roller coaster due to different players leaving at such crucial stages?
To be honest no not really. Yeah it shocked you when the players left but you had to stay focused on your own goals more than anything. We lost a bunch of great players and great blokes but that made the group have to pull together more. So you could say we all were going on a roller coaster but we were doing it together and sticking to what we set out to do becoming more focused than ever.
I can imagine that being hit with the point reduction early in the season really effected the team, coaches and staff quite a bit at the Bulls. Did this motivate your side even more this year to make up for the points lost and avoid relegation/make the top 8?
It did hit hard as we didn't think it would be 6 but when it happened it happened and there is nothing we could do. We saw this as a challenge and set ourselves new goals to overcome this barrier. It didn't set us back, it just inspired us to get over the points and catch up with some of the teams that we know we can outplay and overcome relegation. The mindset of no players was effected by this, no one sulked or wanted to quit everyone bought into what we were doing and worked even harder at their job.
We've heard a lot about how the point-reduction effected the club as a whole, but how did it effect the players, too?
Obviously it's all around you when you look at the league or talk to people about Bradford, then they ask about the deduction. But around the place we tend not to talk about it and not let it affect us otherwise that would show within our performance on the pitch. We're there to do a job and now that jobs got harder it just makes it more fun and hopefully a bigger party at the end of the year if we overcome it!
What do you make of the Super League bringing promotion and relegation into the competition? Do you like the idea that Championship clubs can now play to get into the top division, or do you think that it was fine the way it was?
I like the new system. I think the old one got tedious as when you was at the bottom of the league you had nothing to play for, there was only the top clubs that did. It makes everyone up their game and gives clubs in a lower league a fantastic chance to play some top tier footy.
Lots of Super League fans on media sites are saying Bradford are one of the two teams that are going to get relegated this season. How does the team cope with this type of negativity? Does this inspire the team to prove them wrong and to perform better each and every week and in the end, avoid relegation and even make top 8?
A lot of people have wrote Bradford off, but we do have a set of very, very loyal fans who I take my hat off to. We don't listen to anyone who writes us off, they don't know the talent and desire that we have and if they don't have anything positive to say then we won't listen. Franny has a great culture going on at the club, not to sulk, not to listen to bad press and to get on with the job at hand and it works. We all buy into it and are hopefully on the road to safety.
The fans get to see your performances week-in-week-out, but don't get to see the performances behind closed doors. How hard are Bradford training behind closed doors? Are you currently enjoying training?
Yeah, I love training and the feeling of making myself a better player. I think we all have this mindset as everybody is staying back to do extras after training and everyone is doing their bit and more to make the whole team successful.
If you could say anything to the Bradford Bulls fans, what would it be?
I would say that the fans are awesome and you always get a great atmosphere when watching. I would say: stick with us fans, it's been a bumpy ride so far but we are well on track to making this club a great place to be and a great super league team to watch.
Away from Rugby League, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I have a few hobbies including golf and snooker. Me and Nathan Conroy regularly play snooker and we play for the bill to make things interesting. It's great competition (even though I'm for better) or that's what I like to think! But aside from a round of golf or game of snooker I love spending time with my family and I am very close to my dad, so whenever we get the chance to watch a game on the telly or go hit a few balls at the range we do it.
What's in store for the future for you? Would you like to challenge yourself at other clubs, or even in different competitions such as the NRL? Or are you currently concentrating on your role at the Bradford Bulls at this moment in time?
My future consists of one day at a time. At the minute I am just concentrating on getting some first grade footy under my belt and becoming a better player. What follows from that I don't know but my loyalties lie with Bradford.
Now for some team questions!
Who complains the most within the team?
Oliver Roberts!
Who has the worst music taste?
Adam O'Brien definitely!!
Who has the worst dress-sense?
I can't be far off hahaha!
What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened in training haha?
We caught Jamie Foster doing his hair at half time in one of the games! For the sky cameras!
Does anyone show off in training?
Luke gale loves to show his skills!
Who spends the longest posing in the mirror haha?
100% Jamie Foster, never out the mirror!
Now for the fans' questions-
@wobblyhead on Twitter asked- There's a lot of young talent at Bulls, you included. Are you guys planning to stay, if we can provide?
Yeah I'd love to stay at Bradford. I love the culture, the location is great and I enjoy training. If another opportunity came along then I would hope Bradford would match it so I could happily stay as I love it!
@markill on Twitter asked- I'd be tempted to ask why he hasn't played more this year after showing promise last year? Also, what is his preferred position?
I don't know to be honest it's out of my control I just have to concentrate on making myself the player that Franny wants me to be and improve on every little thing I possibly can! My preferred position is back row but can play anywhere in the pack, even hooker! No that's a joke!
Tom Little on Facebook asked- Have you got any inspiring words for any young players who want to become professional Rugby League players one day?
Yeah - becoming a professional isn't easy, you have to make a lot of sacrifices so you have to be 100% committed but I'd say to a young player, work your backside off, play to the best of your ability, always believe in yourself and have the best attitude you can possibly have and you're on your way to the top.
That's all of the questions. Thanks again to Alex Mellor for doing this in his spare time, go say thanks to him from me on Twitter and give him a follow @melloralex.
Make sure to also follow my account, @RLLatest, to know when the new "Getting To Know-" articles are out each week!
Thanks for reading!
Here's what we talked about-
Hi Alex. First of all I'd like to thank you again for doing this in your spare time, I appreciate it!
I always like to start the interviews by asking about the player's childhood. So, talk me me about rugby while growing up?
As for growing up I started playing rugby at the age of 11 due to me becoming good mates with a guy at high school and me going to the club he was at which was king cross park in Halifax. I was a tall, skinny, young lad but as soon as I started playing I loved the game and from around 13 this inspired me to go to the gym on a regular basis. I played for king cross until I was 16 and signed for Bradford from there, but along the way we won numerous trophies including the Yorkshire cup!
As a young player, did any professional players inspire you?
Although I never really got much chance to watch him and he wasn't my position, my role model used to be Darren Lockyer. I loved the way he went about the game, he was so committed and focused. Also his flare with unreal meaning - he could come up with something out of the ordinary. As a forward I also liked watching Jamie Peacock just for brute strength and desire. Plus he always liked to throw his fists around so was great to watch!
So your current club and only club so far in your career are the Bradford Bulls. How were you picked up by the Bulls? You were involved in the Bulls' scholarship system, right? How did that happen?
I was scouted for the bulls whilst on an u13 Yorkshire camp and from there I was asked to join them on a scholarship at u14 level. I then did 3 years at scholarship and along the way I turned down offers to go elsewhere just because I loved the culture at the club and enjoyed my time being around the place. I played for the scholarship as captain at u15 and u16 levels and from there went on to sign a part time contract to enable me to play at academy level.
Do you remember your debut for the Bradford Bulls? Do you remember what it felt like to run out onto the pitch with the first team and to play for and in front of thousands of fans?
Yeah I remember it as though it was yesterday! I was still a part time player, in the process of going full time but my contract had not yet started. The game was on a Sunday and on the Friday I got a call saying I would be 18th man and to come to training with the first team in the morning. So then on the Sunday morning I woke up early to a call from Franny [Bradford coach, Francis Cummins] saying I would be playing due to a massively unforeseen circumstance. I was a bag of nerves all day and sat on the bench was even worse. Towards the end of the game I came on for a 10 minute spell and as soon as I stepped foot on the pitch the nerves were gone and I really enjoyed the day and the experience!
So, onto this season. What was pre-season like for the Bradford Bulls? Were there any main focuses in pre-season to improve the team's games?
This was my first pre-season so I found it particularly tough! At some points you are mentally close to falling off the edge of a cliff but have to use all your mental strength to carry on. Fans see 80 minutes on the pitch but no one sees the amount of effort you have to put in for months on end, doing 6 days a week pushing your body to the limit. I was a wreck in pre-season, my body was in bits but I got in good shape and felt good for the start of the season. Our team goals were all about attitude and taking desire into every game we played.
Was pre-season a bit of a roller coaster due to different players leaving at such crucial stages?
To be honest no not really. Yeah it shocked you when the players left but you had to stay focused on your own goals more than anything. We lost a bunch of great players and great blokes but that made the group have to pull together more. So you could say we all were going on a roller coaster but we were doing it together and sticking to what we set out to do becoming more focused than ever.
I can imagine that being hit with the point reduction early in the season really effected the team, coaches and staff quite a bit at the Bulls. Did this motivate your side even more this year to make up for the points lost and avoid relegation/make the top 8?
It did hit hard as we didn't think it would be 6 but when it happened it happened and there is nothing we could do. We saw this as a challenge and set ourselves new goals to overcome this barrier. It didn't set us back, it just inspired us to get over the points and catch up with some of the teams that we know we can outplay and overcome relegation. The mindset of no players was effected by this, no one sulked or wanted to quit everyone bought into what we were doing and worked even harder at their job.
We've heard a lot about how the point-reduction effected the club as a whole, but how did it effect the players, too?
Obviously it's all around you when you look at the league or talk to people about Bradford, then they ask about the deduction. But around the place we tend not to talk about it and not let it affect us otherwise that would show within our performance on the pitch. We're there to do a job and now that jobs got harder it just makes it more fun and hopefully a bigger party at the end of the year if we overcome it!
What do you make of the Super League bringing promotion and relegation into the competition? Do you like the idea that Championship clubs can now play to get into the top division, or do you think that it was fine the way it was?
I like the new system. I think the old one got tedious as when you was at the bottom of the league you had nothing to play for, there was only the top clubs that did. It makes everyone up their game and gives clubs in a lower league a fantastic chance to play some top tier footy.
Lots of Super League fans on media sites are saying Bradford are one of the two teams that are going to get relegated this season. How does the team cope with this type of negativity? Does this inspire the team to prove them wrong and to perform better each and every week and in the end, avoid relegation and even make top 8?
A lot of people have wrote Bradford off, but we do have a set of very, very loyal fans who I take my hat off to. We don't listen to anyone who writes us off, they don't know the talent and desire that we have and if they don't have anything positive to say then we won't listen. Franny has a great culture going on at the club, not to sulk, not to listen to bad press and to get on with the job at hand and it works. We all buy into it and are hopefully on the road to safety.
The fans get to see your performances week-in-week-out, but don't get to see the performances behind closed doors. How hard are Bradford training behind closed doors? Are you currently enjoying training?
Yeah, I love training and the feeling of making myself a better player. I think we all have this mindset as everybody is staying back to do extras after training and everyone is doing their bit and more to make the whole team successful.
If you could say anything to the Bradford Bulls fans, what would it be?
I would say that the fans are awesome and you always get a great atmosphere when watching. I would say: stick with us fans, it's been a bumpy ride so far but we are well on track to making this club a great place to be and a great super league team to watch.
Away from Rugby League, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I have a few hobbies including golf and snooker. Me and Nathan Conroy regularly play snooker and we play for the bill to make things interesting. It's great competition (even though I'm for better) or that's what I like to think! But aside from a round of golf or game of snooker I love spending time with my family and I am very close to my dad, so whenever we get the chance to watch a game on the telly or go hit a few balls at the range we do it.
What's in store for the future for you? Would you like to challenge yourself at other clubs, or even in different competitions such as the NRL? Or are you currently concentrating on your role at the Bradford Bulls at this moment in time?
My future consists of one day at a time. At the minute I am just concentrating on getting some first grade footy under my belt and becoming a better player. What follows from that I don't know but my loyalties lie with Bradford.
Now for some team questions!
Who complains the most within the team?
Oliver Roberts!
Who has the worst music taste?
Adam O'Brien definitely!!
Who has the worst dress-sense?
I can't be far off hahaha!
What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened in training haha?
We caught Jamie Foster doing his hair at half time in one of the games! For the sky cameras!
Does anyone show off in training?
Luke gale loves to show his skills!
Who spends the longest posing in the mirror haha?
100% Jamie Foster, never out the mirror!
Now for the fans' questions-
@wobblyhead on Twitter asked- There's a lot of young talent at Bulls, you included. Are you guys planning to stay, if we can provide?
Yeah I'd love to stay at Bradford. I love the culture, the location is great and I enjoy training. If another opportunity came along then I would hope Bradford would match it so I could happily stay as I love it!
@markill on Twitter asked- I'd be tempted to ask why he hasn't played more this year after showing promise last year? Also, what is his preferred position?
I don't know to be honest it's out of my control I just have to concentrate on making myself the player that Franny wants me to be and improve on every little thing I possibly can! My preferred position is back row but can play anywhere in the pack, even hooker! No that's a joke!
Tom Little on Facebook asked- Have you got any inspiring words for any young players who want to become professional Rugby League players one day?
Yeah - becoming a professional isn't easy, you have to make a lot of sacrifices so you have to be 100% committed but I'd say to a young player, work your backside off, play to the best of your ability, always believe in yourself and have the best attitude you can possibly have and you're on your way to the top.
That's all of the questions. Thanks again to Alex Mellor for doing this in his spare time, go say thanks to him from me on Twitter and give him a follow @melloralex.
Make sure to also follow my account, @RLLatest, to know when the new "Getting To Know-" articles are out each week!
Thanks for reading!