Bye Marcus

Bradford Bulls winger Marcus Bai has announced his retirement from the game this morning, leaving the Bulls with immediate effect.








The Papua New Guinean winger, who became so much of a crowd favourite at Melbourne Storm that they unofficially renamed the North East Stand in his honour, leaves Odsal after one year in which he scored 12 tries in 26 appearances.

At 34 years of age, Bai remains the only player to have won the World Club Championship with three different clubs, with Melbourne in 2000, Leeds Rhinos in 2005 and Bradford Bulls in 2006 as well as having joined the select band of players who have won a Grand Final in both Australia and England.

A superb personality on and off the field, the 'no-nonsense' Bai was probably one of the most underrated players of the modern game. With 127 league tries in 245 appearances for Melbourne, Leeds and Bradford, the South-Sea islander boasted a strike record amongst the best in the business and his work ethic and honesty was unquestionable.

Whilst Bai's retirement is a loss to the sport, Bradford will move on. Wingers are scarce on the transfer market at present and so academy winger Andy Smith will see this as a prime opportunity to make the step from the U21's whilst the experience of Marcus St Hilare can also cover the number 2 position.

Whilst Bai might not go down as one of the most well-known players ever to take the field, his name should still be among the modern greats.