James Donaldson has revealed how a week spent living with Sam Burgess prompted him to turn down offers from Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos to join Bradford Bulls. The Cumbrian back-rower was highly-sought after as a youngster at vaunted amateur club Wath Brow Hornets and attracted interest from numerous Super League clubs.
John Bastian was keen to bring him into the youth ranks at Headingley and he trained at Wigan and the Bulls, staying with Iain Thornley and Burgess respectively. Donaldson, set to make his 250th career appearance in Leeds’ play-off semi-final at Wigan tonight, said: “I actually went to spend the week training with Wigan when I was 15.
“I supported Wigan, like a lot of Cumbrian rugby league fans do, and had been to watch them in a few big finals. In a scrapbook I had as a kid, I wrote ‘when I grow up, I want to play for Wigan Warriors’.
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“A guy called Brian Foley was their chief scout at the time so I went down for the week and stayed with Iain Thornley and his family. Leeds showed interest as well, but then I went and spent a week training at Bradford, living with Sam Burgess in Heckmondwike.
“Sam was only 19 himself at the time but he looked after me. I just saw the life Sam was living, how much he was enjoying it, and how much of a family club the Bulls were with the same values that I hold.
“Everyone seemed to look after each other and I thought ‘this is the place for me’. Sam and his family remain close friends of mine, as do a lot of other people who were at Bradford at the time.”
Donaldson made his Super League debut as a 17-year-old under Steve McNamara in 2009 but was there when the Bulls suffered a dramatic fall from grace. They entered administration in 2012 and were relegated from the top flight in 2014.
After Bradford’s much-publicised demise, Donaldson moved to Hull Kingston Rovers where he spent four seasons. The Robins discarded him at the end of 2018, but their loss proved Leeds’ gain, and he is now in his fourth season at Headingley, having helped them to Challenge Cup glory in 2020.
Three knee constructions and numerous other injury setbacks have severely tested Donaldson’s mental resolve. But, having joined the Rhinos on trial, he earned a full-time deal and has become a consistent member of their pack, helping Rohan Smith’s side into tonight’s play-off semi-final.
Donaldson added: “Kevin Sinfield was in charge at Leeds at the time and offered me a two-week trial when I had nothing left. To now be coming to the end of my fourth year here – and be playing my 250th career game this week with the chance to make it to a Grand Final – is unbelievable.
“Leeds Rhinos have done so much for me, on and off the field, and I can’t thank them enough. This is my fourteenth season in Super League now – I debuted for Bradford in 2009. I’ve had three ACLs, an administration, and a relegation but I’ve always stuck at it. A lot of it is down to sheer hard work and I’m proud of that. My attitude is that I will never give in and will get the rewards.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the most talented player, but I work hard for everything I’ve got, so hopefully we’ll be speaking about 300 games in a couple of years. It’s a great place to be at the moment and I can only see it going to even better places in the future under Rohan. I’m loving my rugby now more than ever.”
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