Steven Sykes returns to Sharks

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2012/01/23/steven-sykes-returns-to-sharks/

Sharksworld can exclusively reveal that lock Steven Sykes will return to Durban to join the Sharks Super Rugby squad.

The 27-year-old second rower left the side at the end of last year's Super Rugby tournament to join Leinster in Ireland but has now opted to reverse that decision and head back to his natural rugby home, in the black and white. Sykes has been released from his contract with Leinster and this afternoon signed a 1-year deal with the Sharks.

Sykes and his young family will fly back to Durban, via Istanbul and Johannesburg, on Wednesday evening and his plan is to pop into Kings Park on Friday morning to say hi, ahead of a full return to practice on Monday.

Speaking to Sharksworld from Dublin, Sykes confirmed that he "can't wait to pull on the black and white jersey again and experience that special vibe at Kings Park. There's no other place like it.

"When I got the opportunity to come and play for Leinster, I really jumped at it and it's been great to experience different cultures and rugby in all sort of different conditions. I always knew that I'd want to come back to the Sharks, of course, but I didn't realise that I'd miss them quite so badly. When the chance came to join them again, I grabbed it with both hands and just can't wait to get back there and contribute.

"I've been speaking to Plum and he tells me what an exciting squad they've got this year and how hard everyone is working. There are some amazing young locks in Anton Bresler and Jandre Marais, along with the older hands like Alistair Hargreaves and Ross Skeate – it's going to be great playing with those guys and I know how hard it's going to be competing with them for selection."

Sykes also revealed that at the time of the decision to relocate to Ireland, the couple didn't realise that young Steven Robert Junior was on the way and the desire to bring up their first child closer to his grandparents played a major role in the decision to head back to Durban. "I'm really looking forward to a bit of warm weather," he quipped.

Welcome back Steven! We're looking forward to great things in the coming season.

Things didn't work out for him at Leinster for whatever reason. I hope it works out for him with the Sharks.

 

[Draggs]

Good to see him back, but I would rather play Marais or Bresler as a starting second row alongside Skeate.
Still, a bit more depth and he has always been a reliable player. Any chance of getting Mostert back now?

 

[Seaton]

Interesting...

 

[Scan]

Shame he didn't work out in Ireland. I really rated him back in his Sharks days. Hopefully he'll find his form in South Africa. Funny how the same thing happened with Mariano Galarza last year, huh?

 

[Darwin]

I think he will be a valuable addition for the Sharks - I always rated him very highly.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

]Funny how the same thing happened with Mariano Galarza last year, huh?

I disagree. Galarza was a talentless dud. Sykes had talent but...............let's just say there were rumours of him having a bad attitude within weeks of linking up with Leinster. He never impressed for the first team, never impressed for the As, there was the pre-season incident against Northampton and his disappearing act over the last month. A change of scenery was best for all involved. He's clearly a good player but just never showed it in Dublin.

 

[Scan]

I disagree. Galarza was a talentless dud. Sykes had talent but...............let's just say there were rumours of him having a bad attitude within weeks of linking up with Leinster. He never impressed for the first team, never impressed for the As, there was the pre-season incident against Northampton and his disappearing act over the last month. A change of scenery was best for all involved. He's clearly a good player but just never showed it in Dublin.

Well, yeah, there is a gulf in class between the two. Galarza had no real reputation in the first place compared to Sykes, who is one of the best uncapped South Africans in the world. Just saying, two dud second row forwards in two seasons. It might turn into the same situation at Munster with the dud centres (de Villiers, Tuitupou, Chambers)!

 

[profitius]

Well, yeah, there is a gulf in class between the two. Galarza had no real reputation in the first place compared to Sykes, who is one of the best uncapped South Africans in the world. Just saying, two dud second row forwards in two seasons. It might turn into the same situation at Munster with the dud centres (de Villiers, Tuitupou, Chambers)!

De Villiers wasn't a dud center. He scored some cracking tries for Munster after a slow start.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well, yeah, there is a gulf in class between the two. Galarza had no real reputation in the first place compared to Sykes, who is one of the best uncapped South Africans in the world. Just saying, two dud second row forwards in two seasons. It might turn into the same situation at Munster with the dud centres (de Villiers, Tuitupou, Chambers)!

Chambers did OK not superb but people forget he had a big impact in winning home game against Saints and filled in well in short term.
Tuitupou was grand, again nothing special just not up to the standard but was a cheap option.
JDV a DUD - Are you serious? I'd take him back ASAP

 

[User1245]

Very good news that Steven is returning, we have missed his grunt in the engine room. I use the word 'grunt' liberally there as I've always thought he is a bit soft for a number 4 lock. However he'll certainly provide the most grunt from our lock department this season.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Certainly more grunt than Skeate and at least he is a lock (refering to Deysel/Alberts). I still don't understand how the Sharks could have let Mostert go; a good lock and centre partnership is exactly what you guys need. Not that the WP/Stormers have been very smart about signings mind you.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Glad for the Sharks, real workhorse of a player, they need the grunt as Sykes and Hargreaves have flair but lack grunt - more no 5 locks
Bresler could go far this year and then they have a solid player to fall back on

 

[Scan]

De Villiers wasn't a dud center. He scored some cracking tries for Munster after a slow start.

Sorry lads, I don't mean de Villiers is a dud full stop but I don't think he had the impact at Munster you would expect from a world class player. He did do well in flashes though, he scored a great try v. Perpignan! The likes of Howlett, Nacewa and the Springboks at Ulster have been more influential, even though JdV didn't hang around too long.
Same story with Tuitupou. Good player. Hadn't a big impact at Munster. They'll never live up to good ol' Rua Tipoki!
Chambers obviously wasn't enjoying himself at Munster, coz he left a winning team at a vital stage in the Heineken Cup. Or maybe he just wasn't enjoying rugby union anymore.

 

[Darwin]

Looks like the Sharks are reasonably well stocked at lock now, even if all the experienced locks are more 5's (loose-head locks) than 4's (tight-head locks). What style of locks are the youngsters (Bresler and Marais)?

 

[Scan]

Sykes was signed on a three year contract to replace Hines, Galarza was signed on a short term contract due to some injuries

Sure? All I know about Galarza's time at Leinster was he was signed up at the beginning of the season. I'd hardly seen him play for the Pumas. Saw him play about 5 minutes off the bench for Leinster. Then he went of to the Pampas XV when the Vodacom Cup began. They would have been as well off not signing him at all coz (as far as I know) they never gave him much game time and so could have managed without an extra second row.

 

[munstermuffin]

Sure? All I know about Galarza's time at Leinster was he was signed up at the beginning of the season. I'd hardly seen him play for the Pumas. Saw him play about 5 minutes off the bench for Leinster. Then he went of to the Pampas XV when the Vodacom Cup began. They would have been as well off not signing him at all coz (as far as I know) they never gave him much game time and so could have managed without an extra second row.

His purpose wasn't to be a star player just fill a short-term gap as cover for better players unavailable at the time.