Paul Sykes (rugby league)

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Paul Sykes
fullname = Paul Sykes
nickname = Sykesy, Syko

---

image_size = 300px
caption =
country =
position = Centre
currentclub =
clubnumber = 24
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|8|11
placeofbirth = Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
countryofbirth = flagicon|ENGEngland
height = height|ft=5|in=10
weight = 14 st 6 lb (92 kg)
club1 =
year1start = 1999
year1end = 2002
appearances1 = 19
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 66
club2 = leagueicon|Harlequins|16 Harlequins RL
year2start = 2002
year2end = 2007
appearances2 = 129
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 696
club3 =
year3start = 2008
year3end = present
appearances3 = 25
tries3 = 15
goals3 = 3
fieldgoals3 =
points3 = 66
teamA = flagicon|ENG England
yearAstart = 2002
yearAend = present
appearancesA = 3
triesA = 2
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 8
teamB =
yearBstart = 2007
yearBend = present
appearancesB = 1
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB = 4
updated = May 1st, 2008
source =
new = yes

Paul Sykes, born 11 August, 1981 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire is an English rugby league player.

Paul Sykes plays for Bradford Bulls, in the European Super League.

Sykes' position of choice is at right centre. He has for most of his career operated at full-back. He has also played some games in the stand-off role.

Bradford

Paul Sykes is a product of Bradford Bulls academy, making his breakthrough in 1999 in Super League IV. However opportunities at Odsal were limited and so Sykes went on loan spells at London in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

In his first spell at Bradford Bulls, he was loaned out to Wakefield RFC for which he played one game of Rugby Union.

Move to London

With the promise of more regular first XIII rugby Sykes moved south to join the London Broncos in a permanent deal in August 2002.

Sykes soon settled back to life in the Capital and representative honours were gained with an appearance for England "A" against New Zealand in October, followed by a place on the successful "A" team tour to Fiji and Tonga.

Sykes has further earned England caps against Russia and Wales in 2003 and France and New Zealand in 2005.

Sykes originally came to the club as full-back, but the arrival of club captain Mark McLinden has seen Sykes operate largely in the centres in Super League X and XI.

Paul successfully converted during 2005 to the centre position where his powerful running and strong tackling are seen to their best advantage.

Super League XI saw Paul Sykes ruled out for much of the season after damaging his kidneys in February. However he made a comeback towards the end of the season after initially being ruled out for the entire campaign

2005 was a record breaking year for Sykes. On 27 February against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Sykes kicked 12 goals from 12 attempts to break a 17 year old London club record.

Further records for most goals and most points followed at the seasons end and in recognition of these achievements Paul was voted Supporters Player of the Year for 2005.Harlequins centre Paul Sykes has confirmed his expected move to Bradford for next season on a two-year contract.

Paul Sykes, who made his Great Britain debut earlier this season, left the Bulls on loan in 2002 to find first-team rugby.

The Bulls paid an undisclosed fee for Sykes, who will be a replacement for NRL-bound Ben Harris.

Quins coach Brian McDermott also paid tribute to Sykes's contribution at The Stoop.

Bradford Bulls

Paul Sykes signed for Bradford Bulls in September 2007 he is a replacement for the departing Ben Harris. Sykes had a contract with Harlequins that would have ended in 2009. Bradford paid an undisclosed fee for his services. This has yet to be confirmed by the Bradford Bulls.cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/story.php?id=8544|title=Sykes completes Bulls switch|publisher=engage Super League|date=2007-09-04|accessdate=2007-09-04] cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/sportbullsheadlines/display.var.1624129.0.bulls_are_set_to_snap_up_sykes.php|title=Bulls are set to snap up Sykes|publisher=Telegraph & Argus|date=2007-08-17|accessdate=2007-08-25] cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/rugby_league/article2276824.ece|title=Bradford entice Sykes to return after six years|publisher=Times Online|date=2007-08-17|accessdate=2007-08-25] cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12213_2667149,00.html|title=Bulls linked with Sykes|publisher=Times Online|date=2007-08-17|accessdate=2007-08-25] cite web|url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_league/article2874085.ece|title=Sykes aims for Harlequins sign-off with final flourish|publisher=Independent|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-25] cite web|url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyleague/story/0,,2148738,00.html|title=Saints fail to see the funny side of French farce|publisher=Guardian|date=2007-08-15|accessdate=2007-08-25] cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/bradford/6977614.stm|title=Centre Sykes returns to Bradford|publisher=BBC|date=2007-09-04|accessdate=2007-09-04] cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/07/09/04/RUGBYL_Bradford.html|title=Sykes Heading Back to Bulls|publisher=SportingLife|date=2007-09-04|accessdate=2007-09-04] cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37804&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL&Refid=|title=Paul Sykes to leave The Stoop|publisher=Quins RL|date=2007-09-04|accessdate=2007-09-04]

On rejoining the Bulls he said: "A lot's changed at Bradford since the first time around and I think there's only Paul Deacon and Jamie Langley still there. "But I'm ready for a fresh challenge and I'm hoping to move back north to win some silverware. Bulls are always challenging and I'm glad I'm going to be a part of that. "Also, my girlfriend has just given birth to our first child as well and we want to be closer to our family." Boss Steve McNamara reckons he has picked up a rare talent. And added "I'm absolutely delighted to have secured an outstanding English centre and thank the board for making the deal possible,".

Great Britain

In June 2007 Sykes was called up to the Great Britain squad [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6744909.stm|title=Eight new faces in Lions squad|publisher=BBC|date=2007-06-12|accessdate=2007-06-12] cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37438&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL&Refid=|title=Melling and Sykes named in GB squad|publisher=Quins RL|date=2007-06-13|accessdate=2007-06-13] and will play in the centres in the Test match against France.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6765035.stm|title= New-look GB select five new caps|publisher=BBC|date=2007-06-20|accessdate=2007-06-20]

Sykes is joined in the Great Britain Test side by Quins teammate Chris Melling.cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37475&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL&Refid=|title=Melling and Sykes to play at Headingley|publisher=Quins|date=2007-06-20|accessdate=2007-06-20]

Paul Sykes made his Great Britain debut in the 42-14 victory over the French on June 22nd 2007, scoring one try.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6228054.stm|title= Great Britain 42-14 France|publisher=BBC|date=2007-06-22|accessdate=2007-06-24] cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/07/06/22/RUGBYL_Great_Britain_Quotes.html|title=Hungry Lions Please Smith|publisher=SportingLife|date=2007-06-22|accessdate=2007-06-24]

England

In September 2008 he was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=11890|title=Myler gets England call|publisher=England Rugby League|date=2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-10-03] and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656553.stm|title=Purdham earns World Cup call-up|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-07]

He has been named in the England team to face Wales at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642490.stm|title=Gleeson to lead new-look England|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-09|accessdate=2008-10-10]

tatistics

Club career

Representative career

References

External links

* [http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_squad_full.asp?SquadID=93 Bradford Bulls profile]
* [http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_news_full.asp?newsid=3157 Sykes in Bulls Return]
* [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2007050000-2007090362,00.html Sykes: I'm still not properly fit]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/2180753.stm Sykes joins Broncos]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/london/4783370.stm Harlequins' Sykes out for season]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/london/4755753.stm Injured Sykes extends Quins stay]