Bradley Clyde – "Let’s Get Ready to Rumble"
Steve 'Chimes' Gillis sits down with one of the greatest forwards to ever play the game, Bradley Clyde. A dual Clive Churchill Medallist and Hall of Famer, Clyde reflects on the Canberra Raiders' golden era, his harrowing accident that nearly cost him his life, and the "sliding door" moment that almost saw him play AFL instead of Rugby League.
The AFL "Sliding Door" and Raiders Origins
Growing up in Canberra, Clyde was a dual-code athlete, playing AFL on Saturdays and Rugby League on Sundays. He admits that if the Raiders hadn't entered the competition in 1982, providing a tangible pathway to professional league, he likely would have pursued a career in the AFL. A lifelong Collingwood supporter, Clyde notes that the birth of the Raiders was the deciding factor in his sporting journey.
The 1989 Grand Final and the Elite Churchill Club
Clyde remains one of only three players to win the Clive Churchill Medal twice (alongside Nathan Cleary and Billy Slater) and holds the rare distinction of winning it in a losing side (1991). Reflecting on the legendary 1989 victory, he recalls the "hairs standing up" on his neck watching Steve Jackson’s match-winning try and the immense confidence the young Raiders squad had heading into extra time.
The Horse Accident: "Lori Thought I Was Dead"
In one of the more chilling segments, Clyde recounts a 1999 State of Origin bonding session that went horribly wrong. Forced onto an "old nag" named Apples, the horse bolted, dragging Clyde for 20 metres and smashing his shoulder.
"Lori Daley actually got to me and said he thought I was dead... there was blood coming out of my ear and I was motionless. I think I blacked out from the shock."
The injury sidelined him for eight weeks and effectively ended his Origin series before it began.
The Raiders' Coaching "Magic Dust"
Gillis and Clyde discuss the incredible "assembly line" of super-coaches produced by the Canberra Raiders, including Craig Bellamy, Michael Maguire, Ricky Stuart, and Mal Meninga. Clyde attributes this phenomenon to the influence of Tim Sheens, describing him as an innovator who taught his players to "narrate" the game and understand the "why" behind every play.
Departure from Canberra and Life After Football
Clyde shares the heartbreak of being forced to leave the Raiders in 1999 due to salary cap constraints. Despite wanting to be a one-club player, he found a second home at the Bulldogs, where he praised the "gritty, in-the-trenches" culture.
Today, Clyde is a successful executive in the corporate world, working in strategic partnerships for a financial communications firm. He also remains deeply committed to the game through his role as Deputy Chair of the Family of League Foundation, helping former players and their families get back on their feet.
Rapid Fire and Reflections
- Sam Backo: Clyde pays tribute to the late Sam Backo, describing him as a massive part of the club's development and an incredibly athletic man for his size.
- Movie Stardom: He jokingly recalls his role in the 2006 film Footy Legends, noting he was "typecast" as an action man with no lines because "they probably had to pay us more if we talked."
- The Judiciary: Clyde reflects on his time sitting on the NRL Judiciary and anti-doping tribunals, stressing the importance of protecting the game’s integrity and ensuring a "level playing field" for the next generation.
Catch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
