Jamie Langley began his career with Bradford Bulls in 2002, debuting at the age of 18. That kickstarted the career of one of Super League’s most formidable forwards in the mid-to-late 2000s. In 12 seasons, the loose forward/second rower registered 40 tries in 256 appearances and was pivotal in the latter stages of Bradford’s so-called “Golden Era” in the 2000s.

Though the Bulls won the 2003 Grand Final and Challenge Cup, Langley was an absentee and even though he was present at Old Trafford in 2004, Bradford lost out to Leeds. Langley did, however, win a medal with Bradford in 2004 as the Bulls beat NRL champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge.

He and Bradford gained revenge over Leeds the year after too, beating the Rhinos 6-15 at the showpiece event, giving Langley his first and only Grand Final winners’ medal at the age of 21. Another World Club Challenge success followed in 2006 as the Bulls triumphed over Wests Tigers, making Langley one of just a few Super League players to win more World Club Challenges than Super League Grand Finals.

Bradford’s success dried up, however, and by the late 2000s, the club were suffering on and off the field, though Langley showed no signs of slowing up. Langley ended his affiliation with Bradford at the end of 2013 at the age of 29, joining Hull KR – the club, ironically, that had pipped the Bulls to the final play-off spot that year.

Langley, however, played just 11 games for Hull KR in 2014, scoring one try before moving to Sheffield Eagles ahead of the 2015 season. The back rower notched up 12 appearances for the South Yorkshire club in 2015, scoring one try.

Langley retired at the end of the 2015 season despite being just 31 years of age to take up the role as head coach of the London Broncos academy. He is now the assistant coach of the Broncos, overseeing the club’s promotion to Super League in 2018 after a four-year absence from the top flight.

As a consistent figure for Bradford, the former Bull was called up to the England squad in the mid-2000s. The forward earned five caps for England between 2004 and 2008 and one for Great Britain in 2007.

A frizzy-haired, 6 ft 2, 100kg monster, Langley was an imposing player with the physicality and aggression to match. Never one to take a step back nor shirk his defensive duties, he was one of the biggest hitters of his time. Langley’s attacking capabilities were also impressive; he had the ability to hold the ball in one hand whilst fending off defenders as well as being able to offload in tricky circumstances.

The Normanton-born enforcer also went into retail in 2013, launching a clothing brand with former teammates Wayne Godwin and Duane Straugheir, ‘We Are Taurus’.