Chris Thorman and Robbie Paul set to go head to head in Northern Rail Cup

10:30am Thursday 4th February 2010

Exclusive By Peter Martini

Chris Thorman will go head to head with former Super League friend and foe Robbie Paul in a mouth-watering match-up on Sunday – with ringing endorsements from the Kiwi legend.

York City Knights’ new player-coach, Thorman, and Leigh Centurions’ new captain, Paul, locked horns in the top tier only last season.

But this weekend the ex-international schemers will face each other at Huntington Stadium in one of the most eye-catching individual battles in the Championships, as the new-look Knights belatedly kick off their season with their first Northern Rail Cup home game.

And they will do so with Paul offering praise aplenty for his former captain at Huddersfield Giants, both as a player and in his designs to climb the coaching ladder.

“‘Spuggy’ is a freak of nature,” said the ex-Bradford and New Zealand hero. “He’s probably pound for pound the fittest man, from an endurance point of view, in the world of rugby league. He’s certainly the fittest I’ve ever trained alongside – and that includes internationals. He could easily do more endurance sports like ironman. It’s freakish.

“I saw myself, especially when I went to Huddersfield, as one of the fittest people in rugby league at that time. But he wasn’t just better, he was better by far.

“Aside from endurance he’s a gym junkie as well, and he’s a natural competitor. I went across from Bradford with a big profile and he said to me it was great having me there as it gave him someone to compete against. I could never match him in endurance but I could do him in the gym – but he used me as a platform and surpassed me.”

Thorman was twice capped by England but Paul, one of the greats in New Zealand RL history, believes the Geordie deserved more international recognition.

He said: “He was a great decision-maker on the field. I enjoyed playing alongside him – I think we complemented each other.

“I had more of a running game and Chris had probably the best decision-making game in rugby league at that time.

“There were a few running halves (in Super League) like Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow and myself. But as for guys who could pick a pass, make the right choice – there was only really Spuggy and Lee Briers. If you put Chris Thorman into my Bradford Bulls team, I’m sure he would have played for Great Britain many times.”

He added: “He’s one of those guys who would’ve excelled in any sport they tried, and the weird thing is he tried rugby league even though he’s not from a traditional rugby league area.

“All his family got into it – his brothers (former Knights Paul and Neil) obviously play as well, and his parents enjoyed it too because it’s a sport that could draw energy out of them as young lads. You have to be powerful, strong, fast, have endurance, and to think on your feet. All of those things allowed Chris’ parents some respite.”

Thorman and Paul met up in York this week as part of the build-up to Sunday’s encounter – going for coffee near to the Minster.

Paul himself has no designs on coaching – he describes it as “the worst and most thankless job in rugby league” and is instead doing a degree at Huddersfield university in sports marketing – but thinks Thorman could make it in that sphere.

The 29-year-old came to Huntington Stadium from Hull as player/assistant-coach but is now caretaker boss as head coach James Ratcliffe sits out a two-month ban.

“He’s been thrown in a bit due to recent events,” said Paul, who joined Leigh from Salford. “He was always good in the changing rooms as captain. He said the right things and spoke well. A coach’s job is quite unique and few people hit that on the nail straight away. But it’s an ongoing thing and he will learn.”

Paul, who turned 34 yesterday, made his competitive debut for the Centurions last week as the Championship side beat Oldham 24-12 while the Knights’ opening game at Rochdale was postponed.

Oldham are due to host Rochdale – both of whom are York’s rivals in Championship One – this Sunday but still have no new ground following their departure from Boundary Park. The Hornets had agreed to postpone the tie, but Rugby Football League chiefs have ordered the game to go ahead – giving the Roughyeds four days to find a venue.