What were you doing back in 1999? For plenty of the current crop of Super League stars they hadn’t even been born, but for Dewsbury Rams’ Paul Sykes he was making his Super League debut for Bradford Bulls.
Now aged 42, Sykes is set to head into his 26th professional season 25 years after his Super League debut. That’s because the veteran has re-signed for newly-promoted Dewsbury meaning he’ll be back plying his trade in the Championship.
It’s a remarkable feat of endurance to still be going after so many seasons in any sport, but in such a physical sport as rugby league it’s genuinely extraordinary having made over 500 appearances across his quarter century career. It’s a career that has taken him all across domestic rugby league, and even to the international level with Sykes representing England and Great Britain during the peak of his powers.
That came during his spells with London and Bradford, both of whom he’s played over 100 games for but it’s now at Dewsbury where he has played the most of his rugby, repping the Rams since 2016 and having made 170 appearances for the side. He was key in helping them gain promotion from League One in 2023 and he’ll now star for them again in the Championship in 2024.
Dewsbury confirmed Sykes’ re-signing via statement, which read: “We are delighted to announce that Paul Sykes has re-signed for the Rams for 2024!
“The forty-two-year-old, will enter his 26th season in first-class rugby league, having played over 500 games since making his debut with Bradford Bulls in 1999.
“Sykes has featured for London Broncos (where he is still the record points scorer), Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers at club level as well as England and Great Britain.
“After joining the Rams in 2016, the veteran Sykes has made 170 appearances for the Rams, scoring 1,049 points.
“In our title-winning 2023 season, he made 19 appearances and scored 191 points including three tries, with his wealth of experience helping guide the squad over the line.”
Upon re-signing, the evergreen Sykes said, “I’m very happy to have signed again and to be back in the Championship with Dewsbury, I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with Fergie.
Head Coach Dale Ferguson said, “He’s an absolute legend of the game, at this club and he’s someone who I have so much respect for.
“He’s somebody who’s a great leader here, he’s got a breath of knowledge, an old head if you like, and is a real professional role model for the rest of the squad. I’m delighted to have him on board for 2024.”
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