TWO stars of the York City Knights' charge to the LHF National League Two title are in the running for honours at the league's awards night, it has been confirmed.

Head coach Mick Cook will be favourite to land the NL2 Coach of the Year accolade after leading his troops to glory in his first season in charge at this level.

And loose-forward Lee Paterson is one of three nominees for the NL2 Player of the Year gong - as predicted by the Evening Press last week.

Paterson has already lifted the Player's Player of the year award at the Knights' presentation evening, which more than made up for the ignominy of going through the season without scoring a try.

Cook will go up against York-based Dean Thomas, the former York player who led Gateshead to the play-offs and several club records in their best-ever season since reforming five years ago. The other nominee is Hunslet's Roy Sampson, the Hawks having surprised many pundits in finishing fifth on a limited budget.

Paterson's rivals for the top award are Chris Birch, the Aussie half-back who set new points and goals records for Gateshead, and Workington's powerhouse, John Tuimaualuga.

Former Knights centre Graeme Hallas, meanwhile, is one of the nominations for the LHF NL3 Coach of the Year award after leading Bradford Dudley Hill to that division's league leaders shield.

The Knights have had great success at previous National League awards ceremonies.

Last year they collected the Community Club of the Year accolade and winger Austin Buchanan was named Young Player of the Year, while Scott Rhodes and Richard Agar were pipped to the Player and Coach of the Year gongs respectively. In 2003, they were named Club of the Year in their inaugural season, while scrum-half Danny Brough was Young Player of the Year.

Four players - Trevor Krause in 2003, and Buchanan, Rhodes and Chris Langley last year - have also been named in NL2 Teams of the Year.

The winners of the 2005 awards will be announced at the league's annual dinner to be held at Elland Road, Leeds, next Tuesday.

Divisional award contenders

LHF NL1

Player of the Year - Gary Broadbent (Whitehaven), Andy Raleigh (Hull KR), James Webster (Hull KR).

Young Player of the Year - Andy Ellis (Hull KR), James Haley (Halifax), Andy Kain (Castleford Tigers).

Coach of the Year - Bobbie Goulding (Rochdale): Steve McCormack (Whitehaven): Dave Woods (Castleford).

LHF NL2

Player of the Year - Chris Birch (Gateshead): Lee Paterson (Knights): John Tuimaualuga (Workington).

Young Player of the Year - Phil Joseph (Swinton): Ian Preece (Dewsbury): Jamaine Wray (Hunslet).

Coach of the Year - Mick Cook (Knights): Roy Sampson (Hunslet): Dean Thomas (Gateshead).

LHF NL3

Player of the Year - Harry Gee (Gateshead Storm), Dene Miller (St Albans), Gareth Walker (Bradford Dudley Hill)

Young Player of the Year - Shaun Flynn (Bramley), Ryan Simpson (Warrington Wizards), Neil Wall (Bradford Dudley Hill)

Coach of the Year - Colin Baker (St Albans), Graeme Hallas (Bradford Dudley Hill), Eddie Harris (Warrington Wizards).

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, September 29, 2005