Tim Jonkers
Encyclopedia
Tim Jonkers is an ex-professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Ireland international representative second-row forward, he played his club football with St. Helens, with whom he had Challenge Cup and Super League grand final success, as well as Wigan, Salford and Leigh.
Jonkers moved to St Helens, Merseyside
at the age of six, learning his trade at local Blackbrook rugby club. He was snapped up inevitably by St. Helens and was hailed as one of Saints' brightest young hopes. He became a regular for many years at Saints and there are few players in Super League
that can brandish as much silverware as Jonkers since the formation of the summer era.
Jonkers' career at Knowsley Road
fizzled out in 2004 mainly due to injury. Jonkers found it tough to gain his place back in the team and subsequently joined Salford City Reds
on loan, before completing a permanent deal in 2005. A recurrence of an injury to his knee, meant that Jonkers was forced to sit out most of his first season, and in March 2006, with first team opportunities scarce, he accepted a one month loan deal with Wigan Warriors
to play under his former boss Ian Millward
.
On his return to Salford, Leigh Centurions
quickly stepped in to take Jonkers on loan till the end of the season. Yet again though, Jonkers' luck deserted him and a knee ligament injury ruled him out for several months. Jonkers signed a permanent deal with Leigh for the 2007 season in November 2006. The injury persisted though and Jonkers announced his retirement from the game on 11 June 2007.
Jonkers moved to St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
at the age of six, learning his trade at local Blackbrook rugby club. He was snapped up inevitably by St. Helens and was hailed as one of Saints' brightest young hopes. He became a regular for many years at Saints and there are few players in Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
that can brandish as much silverware as Jonkers since the formation of the summer era.
Jonkers' career at Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
fizzled out in 2004 mainly due to injury. Jonkers found it tough to gain his place back in the team and subsequently joined Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
on loan, before completing a permanent deal in 2005. A recurrence of an injury to his knee, meant that Jonkers was forced to sit out most of his first season, and in March 2006, with first team opportunities scarce, he accepted a one month loan deal with Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
to play under his former boss Ian Millward
Ian Millward
Ian Millward is an Australian rugby league coach and former player. Millward is currently the head coach at Super League side Castleford....
.
On his return to Salford, Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
quickly stepped in to take Jonkers on loan till the end of the season. Yet again though, Jonkers' luck deserted him and a knee ligament injury ruled him out for several months. Jonkers signed a permanent deal with Leigh for the 2007 season in November 2006. The injury persisted though and Jonkers announced his retirement from the game on 11 June 2007.