Adam Dykes (born February 5, 1977 in Sydney, NSW) is an Australian
rugby league player for Hull FC in the UK Superleague competition. He also
previously played for the Parramatta Eels between 2002-2004 and for Cronulla
Sharks until the end of the 2008 season. His position of choice is Five-Eighth,
though he has also been shuffled around the backs during his career, playing
minor parts of it at both Lock and in the Half-Back role.
Early Career
Dykes began playing rugby league at an early age after being
heavily involved and influenced into the game by his father John Dykes whom was
a professional player himself for one season in 1976 for the Cronulla Sharks,
along with also being their reserve grade coach between 1993-1994.
With Adam possessing copious amounts of talent for the game
along with his fathers heavy influence within the Cronulla Sharks many believed
that it would only be a matter of time before Adam would don the Sharks jersey.
1995
Adam Dykes made his first grade debut for the Cronulla
Sharks as an 18 year old in the 1995 season (March 11 Round 1) against the Newcastle
Knights. With several impressive performances for the club he quickly cemented
his position in John Lang's outfit as the key five eighth.
1996-2001
He remained a key player for the club in the number six for
several seasons. In 2001 he rose to represent City in the annual City vs
Country Origin match.
2002-2004
Dykes was controversially signed by Parramatta Eels head
coach Brian Smith for the start of the 2002 NRL season (on a four year deal),
angering many Sharks fans as they had seen him as one of the central members of
the team along with the fact that he was a born and bred Cronulla junior. With
this in mind many fans began speculating that Dykes had clashed with new
Cronulla coach Chris Anderson and that this had led to his departure, though
none of these claims were ever proven to be factual.
His three year Parramatta career though proved to be at best
disappointing for Dykes.
After three troublesome years at Parramatta, Dykes
approached the club asking them for a termination on his final year with the club,
citing wanting to return home to the Sharks.
2005-Present
Dykes returned to the Cronulla Sharks in 2005 under the
influence of coach Stuart Raper.
Adam has signed a 2 year deal with Superleague Club Hull FC
for 2008 to replace fellow Australian half Matthew Head.