He also looks like Roy Scheider from 'Jaws'

He's an enigma, at times he looks genuinely quality, even at 6. And at times he looks out of place in a SL side. Hes never been international quality though and cant believe he went to the world cup....and played!

that would be cain southernwood who spent the weekend playing halfback for england academy. If orford aint back can see him debuting next week imo.

Pardon

Ah! Eric, Oldhams finest son.

Would that be the Eric Sykes who played rugby for the RAF, or some other Eric Sykes?

Was a good player at London/Quins...we played him Full back or centre...where all he had to do was pick a gap and run hard....did a good job for us. Then we sold him, along with Mr Sheriffe and Worrincey to the Bulls and look at the stella performances they've put in since that move!! Loving it

Broncos-Quins SL record:
2001-2007 - 127 games, 41 tries about 1 try every 3 games from mainly full back, but also centre.

Bradford SL record:
2008-
67 games, 26 tries, most from centre.

Until this year, he was averaging one every other game...so unless he is setting up loads, I would think he is best played at centre or even FB.

His try scoring record is still better at Bradford though, but I suppose on average we score more tries.

He hasn't scored many (if any) at stand-off, but he has 9 assists this season so that makes up for it I suppose.

His strike rate is better from centre than it is elsewhere (was the same at Broncos)/......2 tries and 9 assists from 17 matches would point to him being better played in the position that England/GB capped him......

Trouble is that we have no-one else.

Also his defence is much less exposed when he's nearer the middle. When he defended at centre I used to despair, he took so many wrong options.

Still, at least you've got another three years to get those deficiencies out of his game.

Don't rate him one bit.

So the Bulls have signed him up for 3 years. Do you think that the new coach been consulted?

I'm fairly pleased at this.

Home-grown and can cover 3 positions to a reasonable standard.

Not been at his best the past few weeks, but he is versatile & come through our academy so is the type of player we should be tying down to a longer deal.

Not a big fan of him , and he's also a poor goal kicker.

He's one of the poorest players in the league.

I know, the poorest players in the league often get picked for England.

And you obviously know better than Tony Smith who thought Sykes had the potential to do well on the international scene.

Ha thats funny didn't see him playing against france the other week !

He's poor, I've never really rated him but he's been very poor since he was shown up in the world cup in Australia. Retaining this type of player on a 3 year deal is a sign of the times to come for Bradford I'm afraid.

And alot of poor players have played at international level, in many sports.

Not international class and now struggling at club level.

Not international class and now struggling at club level.

He'd never get a three year contract at any other club, I don't think the fact that he's home-grown is enough reason for such a long deal.

They have, but the coaches obviously see something in them at the time. I'd trust Tony Smith's opinion over anyones on this board to be quite honest.

He's not a world-class player by any means, but he's versatile and can play very well. Just needs to find some consistency.

People always go on about his world-cup showing, but switch any player numerous times in a match all around the field and he won't exactly play a blinder. I'll admit he could have done better, but there were players who got 80 minutes in their favoured positions and still didn't do too much better than Sykes.

Regardless of what it may look like to outsiders, from somebody who has seen every game he has played in a Bulls shirt, it is a good signing. From an inside p.o.v, making sure you sign up home-grown talent who are SL tested and have international experience can only be a good thing.

Where do you get the idea he's struggling? He's having a good season with Bradford apart from his last 2 showings (which the whole team played badly).



Brian Noble wanted him at the start of the season, and guess what? A man who has had alot of success as a coach wanted him on a 3 year deal. He must know nothing though??