Dewsbury Rams veteran Paul Sykes still happy to strap on his boots

The 38-year-old will enter his 22nd season of professional rugby league when Dewsbury Rams kick off their campaign against Leigh Centurions on January 31.

Sykes enjoyed spells at Bradford Bulls, London Broncos and Wakefield Trinity before joining his hometown club in 2016.

And when asked how he has managed to keep going all these years, he smiled and said: “I don’t get tackled really!”

He continued: “It is just the passion for the game, it is something I have enjoyed since I was a kid.

“I always said as long as I feel good I will carry on playing.

“The body is in decent shape at the moment, and I am really looking forward to it this year.”

Sykes wasn’t always certain that he would still be playing this year but admits he may still continue his career in 2021 if he feels he is maintaining a good level of performance.

“When you get to my age there is always doubts in your mind,” he said. “But with the way I played last year I felt well enough to carry on this year.

“I think that’s what will happen this year.

“If I am playing well and I am enjoying my rugby, why not carry on. To me, it will be based on performance. And, at the moment, I am enjoying it.”

Dewsbury ended their pre-season preparations with an encouraging 25-12 victory over Championship rivals Bradford Bulls last weekend.

The Rams endured a frustrating start to the 2019 campaign, losing a number of fixtures by less than a six-point margin.

If results had gone their way, Dewsbury might have avoided being dragged into a relegation battle and Sykes feels the Rams are better prepared for those scenarios this term.

He said: “Last year, we could have finished a lot higher, if we had won some of the games we were in front in.

“But this year Lee [Greenwood] has put his own stamp on it and brought his own players in while some players have gone. It is more mental. We spoke about when we get in those scenarios [defending a lead] in games and hopefully we can deal with them.

“We can overcome those and come through the other end. We have got a few young lads, we have got to pull them through it and drill into ourselves.

“I am looking forward to it. We have had a tough pre-season. It was tougher than last year.”

He added: “We need consistency. We want to do better than what we did last year. We want to be a hard team to beat.”

Sykes has taken on a coaching role alongside his playing duties in 2020.

He will assist head coach Lee Greenwood and assistant Jack Howieson and admits it could be something he opts to do when he retires.

“I am doing little bits with the lads, some skill sessions,” he said.

“And all the lads have been great, they are taking everything on board.

“I am looking forward to delving into that coaching side because I might choose that path when I finish playing.”