By Bonnie Hancock
Plenty of NRL talent-spotters have had a good long look at Sebastian Sykes, but for whatever reason a deal remains out of reach.
Now the young second-rower is determined to prove any doubters wrong.
The Currumbin Eagles second-rower was feeling optimistic last year when scouts from several NRL clubs showed interest in recruiting him, but a contract never came.
Now the Bond University Bachelor of Laws student has been named in the Queensland team to take on New South Wales in the Universities Rugby League Interstate Challenge at Carina on the 23rd of May.
Sykes is hoping the opportunity will help get pen to paper.
“I got some offers to play professional NRL at the end of last year but they fell through, which was disappointing,” Sykes said.
“This year was a reset – I wanted to have a good crack and put everything into preseason.
“To get a deal, you have to be in the spotlight, and playing in the Queensland Universities side will help with this.”
Sykes need only look across the field for further inspiration – he’ll be joined by older brother and Carina Tigers front rower, Oliver, who he has long admired on and off the field.
“I’ve always looked up to Oliver and went to all of his games growing up…it’s pretty special that now I get the chance to play with him,” he said.
“Oliver also studied law at Bond and is doing really well at a big corporate firm.”
For the brothers, who grew up on the family farm in rural Mungindi, which straddles the New South Wales-Queensland border, football is a family affair.
Their dad, Jeff, played reserve grade for Cronulla while uncles Chris and Michael played for the Sydney Roosters and Australian rugby sevens team respectively.
Sykes says his parents instilled the work ethic he is becoming increasingly known for.
“Mum and Dad brought us up to be hard workers in everything we do, and also to have fun along the way.”
“They drilled into me that I’m not just a footy player – that I can balance a sporting and professional career.”
“Professional NRL is the goal but I’m also committed to my degree so the next steps will be like chess…I need to make the right moves and decisions for myself.”