YORK City Knights veteran centre Graeme Hallas has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant coaching job at Huntington Stadium.

The former Great Britain tourist, who was an assistant to outgoing boss Paul Broadbent, is strongly considering hanging up his boots and is keen to move into coaching.

The 32-year-old, who had a one-year contract with the Knights, revealed he has been carrying a double hernia over the last two months, and said his body was telling him to retire from playing.

"I would be interested in it," he said of the Knights post.

"I will sit down with my family and see what my situation brings, but if anybody at the club wanted to talk to me about the job I would be very willing to listen.

"At this moment in time I've got to get myself sorted out. Retirement is something I've been thinking out. I'm not 100 per cent sure but I'm leaning heavily towards retiring. The time has come for me to possibly step aside and leave some of the younger generation to kick in. I feel I can use my experience in a different way."

Hallas said he had been shocked when told about Broadbent's decision to leave.

"The players were generally subdued," he said. "It was out of the blue. I think he gave very fair reasons and I fully understand them, I've got two young kiddies myself.

"I don't think anybody could quantify what they'd been told, but at the end of the day life has to move on. Everybody has to get on with it, crack on and move forward from here."

Updated: 11:34 Thursday, September 18, 2003