Big Ben is not ready to clock off work yet...
BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT
HAVING recovered from a fractured skull and blood clots in his lungs, Ben JonesBishop knows plenty about resilience.
So he is prepared to bide his time, train alone and wait for a Super League chance in 2021.
The 32-year-old turned down a new deal at Wakefield in search of a fresh challenge.
But 10 weeks from the scheduled kick-off and despite interest from the top flight and Championship, JonesBishop is still without a club.
It is a position he says he is comfortable with and one that has allowed him to focus on a property business.
But the former Leeds, Harlequins and Salford winger does want another crack at Super League, having made an impressive return from his second blood clot at Trinity last season.
“I thought when I came back my performances showed I still had plenty to offer,” said Jones-Bishop, who first suffered the lungs problem at Leeds that was followed by a depressed fracture of the skull at Quins.
“All through my career I don’t seem to have picked up strains, it’s only been the serious issues, but that’s part of the rollercoaster of sport.
“And the past 18 months have been good mentally. After being out for so long I had a chance to reflect.
“We’ve spoken to some clubs but with the season getting pushed back everything is up in the air and teams don’t want to commit. I’m not in a rush to take a low-ball offer. I’m happy to keep fit and be ready for any opportunity that comes along.”
He has another reason to return – the chance to cement a place in the Jamaican side playing in their first World Cup this autumn, alongside his younger brother Aaron.
“It’s a big part of it,” he added. “There are two games in Leeds and there’s a big Caribbean community in West Yorkshire.The domestic game in Jamaica is getting stronger.”