THE free-scoring Dent brothers are staying at York City Knights – and boss James Ford reckons Adam can follow in Ben’s footsteps and become a first-team hit.

Big brother Ben, who turned 23 a fortnight ago, was the Knights’ top scorer this year with 20 tries in 23 appearances in his first season as a fully-fledged first-team winger, and the joint-second top scorer in Championship One with 18.

The former New Earswick ARLC starlet also scored the club's official try of the season, with a length-of-the-field effort in the win at Oxford, having risen highest to defend a kick on his own line.

Adam, 20, meanwhile, made further strides in the reserves and scored two tries in two first-team appearances on the flank.

Ford is now relishing the prospect of the pair lining up together should Adam continue his progress, and the former Widnes, Sheffield and Castleford centre reckons that, in Ben, he has one the “best natural finishers I’ve played with”.

“He’s shown a lot of potential since I’ve been at the club and this year was his best year,” said Ford, a threequarter himself, who has taken over the reins after retiring as a player.

“He’s an exciting player to watch and to play alongside. He’s quick and probably one of the best natural finishers I’ve played with.

“Some of his finishes this year were miraculous. One against Hunslet springs to mind.”

Asked to qualify his comment comparing Dent with other wingers he has played alongside, Ford said: “The game has progressed tremendously over the past five or six years, and some of the things they’re doing to finish tries is pretty exciting, and Ben is a very good finisher.

“He still has enormous potential. He’s a very skilful player and he can combine that with pace. Twenty tries in 23 games is a very good return.

“That try down at Oxford epitomised what he’s all about. He got up above the attackers, took an overhead catch and showed remarkable pace to out-sprint opponents to the other end.

“Supporters want to see people like Ben play.

“He’s also good defensively. When he’s outside you and you make a miss-read, he will come inside and shut down the space for you.

“He’s still young and there’s still room for improvement physically and mentally, and we will be pushing him hard.

“The good thing is we set him targets for pre-season last year and, if you look at his physicality, it was clear he'd worked really hard on meeting them. We will want to see more of that.”

On Adam, also a New Earswick ARLC product, Ford said: “I’m really pleased he’s staying. He brings lots to the environment. His intensity is good in training and he’s very positive.

“He also brings versatility as well – I’m still not sure if he’s better as a winger or a centre.

“He’s skilful, he runs good lines, he’s tough in defence, and he’s another good finisher.

“They are two different players. How about a wing-centre partnership – that would be interesting.”

The 20-year-old had few senior opportunities this year, but Ford said: “He’s got a great attitude, a great approach and a lot of natural ability. He was unlucky last year as he got in but injury took him out and with the way the likes of Ben and James Saltonstall were playing it meant they stayed in.

“I’ve no doubt he could contribute to the first team.

“I’m confident that if he plays, he will play well. I’m also sure there’s a lot more in him. If he works hard and stays patient, he will progress a long way."