Alphabet dream team: Best Super League XIII with names beginning with B

In our new feature series, we create alphabetical dream teams from all the players in the Super League era.

READ: Alphabet dream team: Best Super League XIII with names beginning with A

First up was A, so now it is time for a dream XIII from all the players whose last name begin with B…

1 Ben Barba

The Australian was only in Super League with St Helens for one full season – but he was nothing short of exceptional during the 2018 campaign. He scored 34 tries in 34 games for Saints, while collecting the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award for being the league’s best player.

2 Marcus Bai

The Papuan New Guinean had a spell with Hull FC in 1997 but it was at Leeds where he really made a name for himself. Bai scored 42 tries in 59 appearances for the Rhinos before joining rivals Bradford for the 2006 campaign. He played 25 games for the Bulls, scoring 10 tries.

3 Chris Bridge

Bridge spent his entire career in Super League with Bradford, Warrington and Widnes. He spent 10 years at Warrington where he scored 107 tries and kicked 311 goals in 228 appearances. He also represented England and Ireland internationally.

4 Richie Barnett

There were two Richie Barnett’s who played in the Super League era but we’ve gone with the New Zealand international! He earned 12 caps for the Kiwis and played for London Broncos and then Hull FC where he became a fan’s favourite.

5 Damien Blanch

Blanch played for Castleford, Widnes, Wakefield and Catalans in Super League. He was a prolific try scorer and became a fan’s favourite in his time at Wakefield and Catalans. He represented Ireland on the international stage, scoring nine tries in nine test matches.

6 Lee Briers

There was a number of candidates we could have gone with for the stand-off role such as Kevin Brown and Danny Brough but we’ve gone with Briers. The 23-time Wales international scored more than 2,500 points in 425 games for Warrington.

7 Rob Burrow

Burrow is an icon of the game. The Yorkshireman made more than 500 career appearances and spent all of his career at Leeds where he became a Headingley legend. He earned 20 caps for Great Britain and England.

8 Ryan Bailey

Bailey spent most of his career at Leeds alongside Burrow. The prop played 307 games for the Rhinos, winning six Super League titles and one Challenge Cup. Bailey earned eight caps in total for Great Britain and England.

9 Danny Buderus

The Australian hooker spent three seasons in Super League with Leeds between 2009-11 and what an impact he made at Headingley. The former Australia and New South Wales representative also played for the Exiles against England in 2011.

10 Julian Bousquet

Bousquet is the only Frenchman to make this team but he has had a great career in Super League and for France at international level. He has made almost 200 appearances for Catalans since 2012 and has earned 12 caps for his country.

11 John Bateman

The Yorkshireman started his career with hometown club Bradford in 2011 before becoming a hero at Wigan. He has had a stellar two years with Canberra Raiders in the NRL and has played 19 games for Great Britain and England.

12 Denis Betts

The Salfordian played most of his career just before the Super League era got underway, but he still made 116 appearances on his return to Wigan between 1998-2001. Betts was a world class back-rower who represented Great Britain on 32 occasions.

13 Sam Burgess

Burgess is one of the best English players to have played in the NRL. He made 88 appearances for Bradford in Super League before playing almost 200 games for South Sydney Rabbitohs. He earned 26 caps for Great Britain and England.

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