Feature: Tyrer reflects on career

It has been an interesting road for Steve Tyrer.

The 28-year-old began his professional career in 2005 and debuted for hometown St Helens on 7th July 2006. It was a boyhood dream come true for Tyrer, playing at Knowsley Road against Catalans Dragons in a 52-26 victory.

“I probably came through a little bit before I was ready, looking back,” he said.

“I was a little bit star-struck by the type of players I was playing with. You don’t even need to name them, that team speaks for itself.

“I didn’t really relax enough when I was getting my opportunity there and probably didn’t play as I could. It didn’t quite work out for me there but I absolutely loved my time there. I’m a Saints lad through and through and I love the club.

“I made my debut against Catalans and I came on for Jamie Lyon, he came off for me. Does it get better than that? It doesn’t does it? And then you were coming on to the type of players that were at the club, it was just unbelievable.”

Between 2006 and 2008, Tyrer made 22 appearances for St Helens, scoring 12 tries and booting 54 goals. Fourteen of those appearances came during 2007 and included a memorable eleven goal haul in a Challenge Cup game against Batley and a particularly profitable night at Huddersfield where at 18, he scored two tries and booted seven goals.

“Sadly it didn’t quite work out for me and I went into a bit of a mess really,” he added. “I got sent on loan a few times and I didn’t really settle. The only time I settled was when I came here (to Halifax).”

During 2009 he played nine games on loan at Celtic Crusaders (scoring two tries and five goals) and three under similar terms at Widnes Vikings (five goals).

“I went to Crusaders during their first year in Super League,” said Tyrer. “It was an absolute mess. I met some fantastic people down there. The team included some of the best lads I’ve ever played with but it was just an absolute circus as everybody knows, so that wasn’t a great year for me.

At Salford Tyrer made 20 appearances, notching six tries and nine goals.

“Salford was alright, I enjoyed Salford,” he said. “They are a good club. I enjoyed it playing at the Willows. I played pretty much every game of the season.

“”I then did a full year at Widnes. I thought I was a bit unlucky not to get offered a Super League contract there.”

That 2011 season saw Tyrer amass 300 points for the Vikings. He was a regular try scorer (22) and booted 106 goals in 25 games.

“Luckily enough after Denis Betts told me I weren’t staying, about half an hour later Karl Harrison was on the phone and he brought me to Halifax, which was by far the best thing that’s happened to me in rugby league since then,” Tyrer said.

“This is my home, I absolutely love playing for Halifax. Since I walked through the door I’ve never even spoken to another club. I’ve been happy here and I want to see out my career here.”

Tyrer has proven to be a good signing for Halifax. His 2012 debut year with the club brought Northern Rail Cup success and third place in the league. Tyrer shared goal kicking duties with Lee Paterson, but still finished the season with eleven tries and 59 goals.

2013 yielded 17 tries and 95 goals and while 2014 wasn’t to prove a prolific one for Halifax, Tyrer contributes nine tries and 86 goals overall.

Two years ago Tyrer was back at his most dangerous as Halifax secured a place in the inaugural Super League Qualifying series. The team did well impressing against Widnes, Hull KR and Salford, before picking up the scalps of fellow Championship teams Leigh Centurions and Bradford Bulls.

2015 saw Tyrer register 18 tries and 96 goals.

Last season injury curtailed his year and he didn’t play beyond July. Prior to that he played 24 games, notching another eight tries and 108 goals.

He looks on course to top 100 goals again this year, having currently kicked 87 goals in addition to scoring sixteen tries.

“It’s a family club and it’s just a great club to play at,” he said.

“We are probably not where a club of this stature should be, but it can get there. It’s got the infrastructure, it’s got reserves, it’s doing all the right things.

“It would be nice to play Super League for Halifax but that isn’t the be all and end all for me. I’ve had a crack at it, but hopefully the stuff that I’m doing and the stuff the lads are doing can put a platform in for the future.”

Having reached 2,000 career points it certainly sounds like Steve will be around for years to come.

Halifax are next in action away at Toulouse Olympique on Saturday.