BIG Brett Waller - nicknamed the Wrecking Ball during his time at York City Knights - is coming back to the Minster city.

The Press understands the giant prop's capture will be announced at the Knights' end-of-season presentation ceremony tonight at the Royal York Hotel, when the list of re-signings are traditionally revealed.

It has already been confirmed that Mike Emmett, one of the stars of Doncaster's super 2014 season in the Championship, has put pen to paper for James Ford's men next year. And crowd favourite Waller will be following him in making the switch from the Keepmoat Stadium.

Ford had hinted at further arrivals from Doncaster when describing Emmett's capture as a notable coup despite the Dons' relegation to League One with only one win all term.

He said: "These are the same players when coached by Paul Cooke that finished fourth. They maybe became a bit disillusioned this year. I've seen them numerous times and people like Mike Emmett are among their best players and will fit in really well with my squad.

"Some of them have been the kind of player we've been missing, and with the environment the coaching team and the players have created here, they will be able to excel."

Former Dewsbury hooker/loose-forward Emmett has been a virtual ever-present for the Dons over the past five seasons, including helping them win promotion from the third tier in 2012.

Hull-based Waller made his breakthrough from the amateur game with York in 2010, scoring seven tries in 15 appearances before injury curtailed his debut season. The Knights went on to win promotion that year, with Waller playing 11 times in the Championship the following season before signing for Gateshead Thunder for 2012.

He scored eight tries in 29 appearances for Doncaster in 2013 as they consolidated in the Championship after promotion, and in 2014 he notched six tries in nine games, winning Player of the Month twice, before a serious cruciate ligament injury curtailed his campaign as the team shocked the league with their fourth-placed finish.

On his return to action, he played 12 times this year, niggling injuries making it a stop-start season for the 28-year-old in a bad year all round for the Dons, with ex-Knights boss Gary Thornton unable to save them from the drop after taking over a struggling side from Cooke.

Thornton has made a notable signing as they plan a bid to bounce back up to the Championship, with PNG centre Jason Tali joining from Newcastle Thunder after aborting a cross-code switch to Newcastle Falcons. There was speculation Tali had been on York's radar.

Elsewhere, former Knights half-back Anthony Thackeray has joined Featherstone from Dewsbury.