YORK KNIGHTS’ Ben Jones-Bishop has vowed to bounce back from his broken foot trauma – and he hopes to play on into 2027.
The veteran winger, now 37, was in fine form before succumbing to the injury against Wakefield Trinity in March.
He needed surgery and will be out of action for at least three months.
Ex-Leeds Rhinos star Jones-Bishop thought his top-flight days were behind him after leaving Wakefield for York in 2021 and then spending three years at Sheffield Eagles.
But he returned to the Knights in March last year, helping them finish top in the Championship, and signed up for their first-ever dalliance in Super League.
Jones-Bishop, who had since scored four tries in eight games, told League Express: “It is very frustrating getting this injury.
“I was enjoying being back. I didn’t think I’d be back, so being here and just having the chances to do this has been great.
“With the start we’d had, I’d been up against some of the best left-edges in the competition every week.
“There was Hull KR’s Joe Burgess, Leeds Rhinos’ Maika Sivo, Lewis Martin – last year’s top try-scorer – at Hull FC and Wakefield’s Tom Johnstone.
“Against Wigan you had Harry Smith’s dominant kicking to contend with and likewise when dealing with Warrington’s Marc Sneyd, too.
“I wanted to see if I was still there or thereabouts and so I was gutted to get injured.
“But I’m aiming to be back before the end of the season. It’s 12 weeks at least with technically not a lot of running, so we’ll have to see how it’s healed then and then take it from there.”
Jones-Bishop, who won the 2011 and 2012 Grand Finals with Leeds Rhinos, turns 38 in August but is adamant he can carry on in Super League next season.
He said: “My plans were firmly set on doing that.
“I feel I’m very much far from done and, from what I’ve produced on the field, I believe I’ve shown I’m more than capable of still being good out there.
“There’s also that role of being a mentor to the younger lads at York and I am pretty focused on getting back (to earn a deal for 2027).”
Ironically, Jones-Bishop believes Super League getting faster is actually helping extend his decorated career.
He said: “The game is so quick now. It’s less wrestle and physical and all that contact.
“It’s quicker and, as long as you’re fit and smart, you can go well.
“The brand of rugby we try to play here is also good for a back; you’re heavily involved both coming out of yardage and in that we like to promote the ball.
“I’m a bit gutted that this style of rugby wasn’t around ten or 15 years ago as it suits me a lot.”