YORK City Knights have further bolstered their options at centre with the signing of feisty former Super League hopeful Brad England – just as it is finally confirmed that Greg Minikin has signed for Castleford.

England's arrival follows hot on the heels of Tyler Craig re-signing for his home-town club and increases the competition for places in the threequarters, with James Morland and Brad Hey previously the only two pencilled in for spots in the centres.

Filling the sizeable gap vacated by Players' Player and joint-Press Player of the Year Minikin's departure will be part of their remit.

Former Salford full-timer and Leeds academy starlet England, who turns 21 next month, is the son of Keith England, who won the Challenge Cup with Castleford in 1986 and also played for Great Britain.

Knights coach James Ford said: "He's got outstanding potential and he fits in with my criteria of bringing in people whose best years are in front of them.

"He's a great athlete – very strong, fast, with good footwork – and most importantly he's very competitive. He competes hard with and without the ball and he competes hard in training.

"He wants to win and will do what it takes to win. Occasionally in the past that has caused him issues but I think it is a positive that he's got such desire to win and compete.

"I'm looking forward to working with him. There's a really good player in Brad England. If he gets the right coaching and the right club who have faith and confidence in him, we will see him improve."

Pontefract-born England is also a Wembley winner like his dad, having scored the decisive try when his Freeston High team beat Castleford High in the 2007 Year 7 National Schools final, a curtain-raiser to that year's Challenge Cup final.

He also starred as a Normanton Knights junior before being plucked by Castleford for their academy set-up from the age of 16. He later joined Leeds, starring in their under-19s, before signing full-time with Salford.

He had a spell on loan in League One with Gloucestershire All Golds this year – playing against the Knights – before ending the season with Championship Shield winners Featherstone Rovers, where he made four appearances, including a debut off the bench in Rovers' win over Bradford Bulls in July.

"Throughout his junior rugby career he was really highly regarded, as it shows being at Leeds, Cas and Salford," said Ford.

"He hasn't quite fulfilled that potential yet and now that responsibility lies with me and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

The Press understands the Knights are also set to take an unnamed half-back on trial in pre-season, a player who has previously been a youngster at a Super League club and has played Championship rugby. Ford has refused to name him.

Minikin's ability, meanwhile, has been hailed by Castleford boss Daryl Powell after one of the worst-kept secrets in rugby league transfers – the 20-year-old's switch to Wheldon Road – was finally confirmed by the Super League club. The impending move was revealed by The Press back in June.

The Press understands the Knights will receive a five-figure sum from Cas, with Tigers chief executive Steve Gill saying the club had "played a great part in Greg's development to date".

Head coach Powell said: "Greg Minikin is an outstanding prospect. I have been really impressed with his ability during his time at York.

"He is a naturally strong player with a great instinct for the game. I'm confident he will be a consistent Super League player in the near future."

League One Young Player of the Year candidate Minikin, who has agreed a two-year full-time contract at Cas, said: "The club is on the up and came close to silverware in the last two years. It's an exciting time to join with a new stadium on the horizon. The club is clearly growing and moving in the right direction.

"There are lots of experienced senior players here who I'm looking forward to developing under. Pre-season training is just around the corner and I'm really excited to get to know my new team-mates and embrace full-time training."

l FORMER Knights threequarter Lee Waterman has signed for Hunslet.

Waterman won promotion with York in 2010, finishing as Championship One's leading points-scorer that year, and in total notched 30 tries and 122 goals in 42 games during his first spell with the club before moving to Doncaster in 2011, where he enjoyed similar success.

His return to York earlier this year proved unsuccessful, however, and was cut short after just four appearances as he quickly went back to the Dons. Both Hunslet and Doncaster were relegated, joining the Knights in League One.