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Biography
This second row was one of Knowsley Road`s most popular players. Sonny had three spells with the club, Sonny originally joined St. Helens in 1991, for a fee reported to be in the region of `£80,000, from Sheffield Eagles, following an earlier spell at Hunslet. At 6ft 2ins and 17stones he has always been a tough nut to bring down. His early days were also characterised by a fair turn of speed.

He became an instant favourite on the terraces, as he is one of the game`s entertainers. Early on in his St. Helens` career he made the No.12, 2nd Row jersey his own following a string of block busting displays, in which, at times, he was unstoppable. He earned Representative honours, amassing 6 Gt. Britain caps and also earned selection for Gt. Britain`s U21s and England. In his first spell with Saints, he helped the club win the 1993 Premiership Trophy and was a runner up in the Lancashire Cup, League Championship and Premiership.

In November 1995, Sonny reluctantly departed the Knowsley Road scene as part of the World Record Transfer deal, which brought Paul Newlove to Saints. He enjoyed three highly successful seasons with Bradford Bulls, which culminated in two Challenge Cup Final defeats at the hands of St. Helens in 1996 and 1997 and the winning of the Super League Trophy in Super League II.

He returned to St. Helens in January 1999. Then equally at home in the prop forward position, Sonny`s phenomenal strength and work rate were his greatest assets. Under, Head Coaches, Ellery Hanley and Ian Millward, he became a permanent fixture in the St. Helens team, and helped the club win, back to back Super League titles in 1999 and 2000 and both the World Club Challenge and Challenge Cup in 2001.

He departed Knowsley Road for a second time at the end of the 2001 season and joined Barrow Border Raiders. He was however, never destined to pull on one of their jerseys. In Sonny`s last Saints appearance, he was placed `on report` and subsequently suspended for his part in a tackle, which left Leeds hooker Robbie Mears with a broken jaw. Before he had served his suspension, he had re joined St. Helens for a third time.

Relieved to be back, Sonny has had a magnificent 2002. Considered by many to be Saints` best `go forward` player, he has played a valuable role in St. Helens winning their fourth Super League Trophy. Extremely unlucky not to be selected in both the Challenge Cup Final, or Super League Grand Final teams, Sonny was just thankful of having an extra 12 months with Saints, that he never expected.

Sonny Nickle had a magnificent career and reached the very pinnacle of his profession. He is a genuine nice guy who has given hours of pleasure for the St. Helens spectators. Sonny signed for Leigh Centurions on December 30th., 2002.

Nickle made his debut for Saints at Hull as part of the team that defeated the `airlie birds` by 31 points to 10 on September 1st., 1991. Sonny made 232 appearances for the Club and scored 49 tries. He gained six caps for Great Britain and went on the 1992 Lions Tour down under.