Just who has given him it?

McNamara, Hood or the new coach that we'lll be getting?

A fool.

Although Sykes hasn't had a brilliant season i still think he puts 100% effort and commitment in every game. Home grown talent and won't be on a massive wage, and if i remember he was part of the England team in the world cup in Australia, so Tony Smith must have seen something in him.

I'm not saying he doesn't, what I would like to know is who has given him it?

Totaly Agree!!.....An English player in and around the National squad who can play in numerous postions and Kick...It was no brainer that we extended his contract.... I admit he may not be a Greg Inglis (who is in the uk) but he does show some passion on the pitch, ive seen him giving the young lads a right mouthfull if there no pulling their weight on match days!!

I've long rated him as a good SL player. maybe getting key players back to fitness & a different coach will get the best out of him.

The key points to Sykes are his "home grown" tag and utility value.

If we can get a proper stand-off in next year to play alongside Orford (providing he stays), Sykes will fill in only when we have injuries in the backs. There won't be many clubs who would have a GB international as a back up player.

He's not a regular stand-off as his decision making and passing has shown at times, he's also a bit ropey defending out-wide in the centres. But, as a squad player he does bring a decent amount of experience. His attitude has not really been questioned and none of us know what he has signed up for in monetary terms.....

so - his attacking play isnt good enough to be in the halves, and defensively he is no good out wide. Where is he any good? I would put in 100% if i were playing for the bulls, but i would still be crap!

Giving such a mediocre player such a long deal shows us where we are at at the moment. a lower half SL team with a few decent kids and a couple of quality ageing Aussies, and a whole load of average Joe's. Or should I say below average Joes, because if they were average SL players we would be in the playoffs.

The problem is the lack of other options. However you may rate him, I can only think of one better federation-trained centre who is likely to be moving clubs this summer (Shenton) and only one better federation-trained stand-off (Orr). Shenton is expected to go to Saints, and if he doesn't I'm sure there will be a bidding war that we can't afford to join in. Orr will be 33 a couple of months into next season.

I too am unsure about the length of the deal, but I would hope that the added security for Sykes means that we will at least be paying less per season.

I agree he's not good enough to be a first choice half-back or centre - but he's pretty handy to have around as a squad player. He's not going to be on mega-bucks either I imgaine so who else is there, especially who would be classed as "home grown" that you would prefer us to sign?

Are you expecting us to have the money to be able to bring back Leon and Atkins? It ain't going to happen.

There aren't many teams who can have top drawer quality from 1-25 in the squad - even Leeds and Saints fans argue the hell out of whether players such as Ablett, Kirke, Burgess, Gardner, Flannery etc are good enough for their squad let alone first 17 between themselves.

There's only one I can think of that has that sort of squad and they just happen to have the richest chairman in the league.

But has given Sykes the contract?

Has McNamara been in touch with potter about players he want's to keep for next season and beyond etc . . . . .

I'd be interested how the London/Harlequin fans rated him when he was there.

Is he just another player underperforming in a team of underperfoming players?

Why would the (quickly determined) departing coach liaise with the non appointed coach of a rival SL club?