He played at club level as a prop or second-row for Hunslet, St Helens, Bradford Bulls, Sheffield Eagles and the Leigh Centurions.
St Helens paid Sheffield an initial fee of £80,000, set by an independent tribunal, and an additional £25,000 after Nickle was selected to play for Great Britain.
[7] Nickle returned to St Helens in 1999, and played in their 1999 Super League Grand Final victory over Bradford Bulls.
Having won the 1999 Championship, St. Helens contested in the 2000 World Club Challenge against National Rugby League Premiers the Melbourne Storm, with Nickle playing at hooker in the loss.
[9] The club attempted to shorten the ban by allowing Nickle to sign a short-term contract with Northern Ford Premiership side Barrow Border Raiders, whose new season started earlier than St Helens.