BRADFORD’S TRY-SCORING FORWARD
Along with Trevor Foster and Keith Mumby, Karl Fairbank resides firmly in the upper echelon of Bradford legends. Nicknamed ‘Konkrete’, he was one of the hardest players of his era, but with over 100 career tries, there was much more to his game than raw physicality. He played in 16 Tests for Great Britain. Five were against Australia and New Zealand, and he won them all.
If you could relive one day from your career, which would it be?
Rather than change one day, I wish I’d enjoyed my career more because you never think it’s going to end. I was disciplined in my private life, but I could have enjoyed myself more after each game. I wasn’t really a drinker, and I just went home rather than socialise with my team-mates.
Your family represents something of a Rugby League dynasty. Can you tell us about them?
My grandfather Frank played for Wigan and Halifax. I wasn’t born when my father Jack played, but he played for Leeds and Huddersfield. My dad’s brother David played for Bramley and Leeds. When we joined Elland, that’s when we had five brothers playing together -David, Richard, Mark, myself and John. David was a BARLA international who wouldn’t go pro despite several offers. The other four of us did. David and John have since passed away, so we’re down to three now.
What do you think of the hard-man image you had?
Well, I didn’t give it to myself! It was a bit of a gimmick. I didn’t try to play the part. It just came from the supporters. I hope I had more to my game than that. I started as a running backrower. As you get older, you end up plonked in the middle.