The RFL

Former Great Britain scrum-half Paul Deacon is delighted to be able to do his bit for the environment by considerably reducing his carbon footprint.

After spending the last decade commuting from his Wigan home across the Pennines to Bradford, Deacon is belatedly fulfilling a boyhood dream by playing for his home-town team following a shock close-season transfer.

“My CO2 emissions have definitely decreased,” he said. “The ride to work is a lot shorter and a lot nicer. I’m literally five minutes up the road.”

The former Bulls captain, who was given a warm reception when he made his debut for the Warriors in last Friday’s win over Crusaders RL, was the only signing made by new coach Michael Maguire and admits he feels like a new kid on the block.

“It’s helped that there’s a new coach and new backroom staff,” he said. “It’s sort of new for all the players, they all want to impress.”

Born in Standish, Deacon played for Wigan amateur club Hindley before being signed by Oldham Roughyeds - then a Super League club - just a few days before his 18th birthday.

He made just four appearances for Oldham before being lured to Odsal, where he went on to break Keith Mumby’s club records for most points and goals in a glittering 11-year spell.

Deacon was still the skipper and under contract for another 12 months but jumped at the chance to fulfil his ambition, signing a season-long deal as a player with an opportunity to join Maguire’s coaching staff.

“The opportunity was too good to turn down and everybody understood,” he added. “I was quite lucky with the way it panned out because Bradford were able to replace me so both parties were happy and I’m glad about that.

“It’s an honour to play for your home-town club and something I always wanted to do. That fact that they offered me a coaching role as well was the thing that swung it for me.”

Deacon, who won 14 caps for Great Britain, admits it was a phone call he thought would never come.

“I watched them as a kid and wanted to sign for Wigan,” he recalled. “In hindsight, if I had signed for them, I might not have been where I am today. It’s funny how things work out.”

Deacon has already got his eyes on an emotional return to Odsal early next month to face his successor, Australian Matt Orford, and he can surely expect another warm reception.

“Hopefully I’ll be involved in that game,” he said. “It will be special. When I left it was the close season so there are a lot of friends I’ve not said goodbye to.

“I was at Bradford so long. I love Bradford as a club, I grew up there if you like.”

Deacon turns 31 this weekend and knows his best days are behind him, but he is confident he can still make a contribution to his home-town team’s bid for silverware.

“I would have retired if I didn’t feel I could contribute,” he added. “I believe I can play a part in the team.

“There is a lot of competition in the halves, which is great for the club. I’m training as hard as I can and fighting for my place.”

On the evidence of the opening match, Maguire is set to use Deacon from the bench, switching Thomas Leuluai to hooker when he comes on and relieving the pressure on young England half-back Sam Tomkins.

“With his experience and knowledge of the game he’s a great asset to a lot of the young guys,” said Maguire. “He can bring a lot to Sam’s game.”

Tomkins was Engage Super League’s young player of the year in 2009 and capped a tremendous first season with impressive performances for England in the Gillette Four Nations, but admits he still has much to learn and can think of no better tutor.

“Paul’s been a top player for many years now and I think I’m going to learn quite a bit from him,” he said. “His organisational skills are top class.

“He’s like the dad of the group. He’s got 10 years on me so hopefully he’s going to pass on a few pearls of wisdom.”

• back