Gareth Ellis could play on and become Super League’s oldest ever player if he shines for Hull this year.
The forward, who came out of retirement last year after 18 months in an office job, turns 39 in May. He is only contracted for this season but Ellis says former Catalans Dragons star Steve Menzies’ record could be a target next year.
The Aussie was three months short of his 40th birthday when he quit seven years ago, which means Ellis cannot break it this season.
Ellis said: “Who makes the rules to say that you cannot play at 40 or at any age? Age shouldn’t come into it.
(Image: Action Images)
“I’m not sure if I want to be a 40-year-old player but Menzies could have kept playing because he was still playing well.
“Ultimately I’d only want to do it if I warranted it, and playing well, not just to get in the history books. The key is my performance.
“I’ve already spoken to the coaching staff and told them not to pick me if, at any point, they think I’m not better than the next guy.
“That’s what I need to be judged on. It shouldn’t be about my age or what I’ve done before but on how I’m playing at that moment.”
Former Great Britain and England star Ellis is convinced he’s now fitter than he was in 2017 when he retired to join Hull’s office staff.
He said: “I spent 2017 thinking about if I should retire or not and it festered away and I was almost thinking about that rather than enjoying playing.”
(Image: Getty)
Ellis answered an SOS last year from coach Lee Radford to come temporarily out of retirement to cover for injuries. He enjoyed it so much and played so well that he played 20 games last year and is now gearing up to try and lead Hull to silverware this season.
He said: “If you watched training I don’t think you’d realise I am as old as I am, seven years older than the next oldest in our squad.
“I’m not silly enough to think I’m going to be the player I was 10 years ago but I’m looking forward to it because we have big expectations as a team.”
Radford said: “Gaz is big for us, off the field as well as on it. The more good people you have the more chance you have of success.
“What I noticed when he retired was we really lacked presence and Gaz brings that.”
