SEASON REVIEW: York City Knights Player of the Year named, plus player ratings for 2016

Last term, Ed Smith took the accolade with the then Super League-bound Greg Minikin, and this year he's done it again, this time with the Super League-bound Kriss Brining.

The homegrown duo pipped long-time leader Jack Aldous to the prestigious gong in the final throes of the Knights' campaign - denying the departing skipper his third such award.

Smith leapfrogged Newcastle signing Aldous, a two-time Player of the Month this term - to top spot in the standings following his display in the 12 v 17 play-off semi-final in Toulouse, when he was rated our second-best performer - which added two points to his player-of-the-year tally.

Try-machine Brining, meanwhile, got within three after being deemed our man of the match (3pts) in France.

And the Salford-bound 22-year-old has since been named The Press Player of the Month for September after two man-of-the-match accolades in those four games - with the three bonus points gleaned putting him level with Smith at the summit.

Mike Emmett was our third best (1pt) in Toulouse.

The Knights as a club did not arrange their own awards night this year and the players (understandably given the uncertainty of their futures) turned down an offer by members of the local media - aided by sponsors and backers - to put on an event in the city centre last weekend.

We still hope to present Smith and Brining - who is believed to be joining Salford - with their gongs soon nonetheless.

Head coach James Ford would not say who would have got the annual Coaches' Player of the Year this term had their been a ceremony, nor was there the usual Players' Player vote for the most significant award of the lot, again given the off-field circumstances, but he reckoned the pair were deserving recipients.

"I think number of players could have got it," he said. "We've seen some outstanding individual efforts.

"Ed Smith has epitomised what we've tried to be about.

"He's tenacious and he always puts the team's goals before his own, as evidenced by him being willing to play centre as well as second-row and also in the middle unit.

"He's incredibly clever as well as tough and he understands what we talk about and what we try to achieve and he gets the context of things.

"In the first half or so of the year he was head and shoulders above any back-rower in the competition.

"He's been a standout player and is a fully deserving winner after another very good season."

On Brining, he said: "Kriss had another great season and has been an eye-catching player ever since he came to the club. We have worked hard on a couple of smaller things in his game and he has risen to the challenges we have set him.

"We pushed him hard because we knew what he was capable of achieving," added Ford. "Now, if he does move to a Super League club, he will have thoroughly deserved it."

Hooker Brining also finished third in League One's scoring charts, with 20 (22 in all competitions), to be the only non-Toulouse player in the top five.

Kuni Minga topped that tree with 31 tries, with Mark Kheirallah second on 23, the French side being runaway table-toppers before sealing promotion when beating Barrow in the play-off final.

Surprisingly, especially given the adversity off the field, not a single Knights player was named in the official League One Team of the Year, even though they finished third after the regulation season and still reached the play-offs amid major uncertainty behind the scenes.

The Press Player of the Year final standings: E Smith 19pts, Brining 19pts, Aldous 18, Tonks 15, Applegarth 14, Emmett 13, Carter 12, Saxton 12, Nicklas 10, Wilkinson 9, Spiers 8, Presley 6, Morland 6, Turner 4, B Dent 3, Crowther 3, Craig 3, Robinson 3, Tyson-Wilson 3, Smeaton 3, Westerman 3, A Dent 2, Buchanan 2, Waller 2, Mallinder 1, Divorty 1, Haynes 1.

The Press Players of the Month: March - Harry Carter, April - Kriss Brining; May - Jack Aldous; June - Mark Applegarth; July - Jack Aldous; August - Tommy Saxton; September - Kriss Brining.

Press Player Ratings for 2016

(Players listed in order of most appearances)

(P=played, T=tries, G=goals)

Mike Emmett 8

P27, T7

Gritty, tough, hard-working, sometimes niggly - the kind of player James Ford had wanted for his pack and the kind he got. Will be missed now he's signed for Keighley.

Kriss Brining 9

P26, T22

The homegrown talent is now one of the most feared players in League One, hence his likely move to Salford - and joint-Press Player of the Year accolade. Game management is improving to complement his natural ability to shove aside bigger men and score from dummy-half. Top-scorer for a second year.

Ed Smith 9

P26, T13

Joint-Press Player of the Year for a second year running. This term he showed his worth in the centres as well as second-row. Good try strike rate too. A homegrown Knights stalwart and still only 23.

Jack Aldous 9

P26, T2

Mr Duracell prop just missed out on a third Press Player of the Year award. Again played many games and big minutes in the engine room, out-running, out-muscling and out-thinking bigger props. He'll be missed now he's gone to Newcastle.

Jonny Presley 7

P26, T6

Veteran half-back was not the try-scoring threat of yesteryear was as he adapted his game, but he was excellent for much of the first two-thirds of the season, playing out game-plans and occasionally taking on the line with that burst of speed. Performances dropped off in the Super 8s.

Danny Nicklas 8

P25, T9, G61

Formed a good half-back partnership with Jonny Presley, with a decent all-round game and deceptively tough defensively. Inconsistent goalkicker but took on the duties with no-one else better.

Josh Tonks 8

P25, T7

Second-row's unfettered desire was at times hard to believe, running into much bigger men at full pelt. Probably needed to sidestep them a bit more! His influence waned a little towards the end of the season but he and Ed Smith formed a formidable back row for much of term.

Russ Spiers 7.5

P23, T5

The hard-headed prop at times ran over or through opponents, barring one or two quiet games. Could well get better with age. Disappointing he couldn't find his passport to make up the numbers in the last troubled trip to Toulouse.

Brett Waller 7

P21, T3

When he blew hot the giant prop was often too hard to handle. A few too many quiet games, but 80 minutes against Toulouse in the play-off underlined his desire and improved fitness.

Mark Applegarth 8

P21, T4

Old stager was an excellent, hard-working influence in the engine room, combining those on-field duties for most of the season with an assistant-coach role.

Harry Carter 7.5

P18, T3

The former academy starlet came of age this year, showing his confidence from the off, winning the March Player of the Month gong.

James Morland 7

P18, T11, G3

Home-grown talent looked set to kick on again this year and often looked a classy centre with a bright future. But was dropped after a poor game against Barrow and disappointingly quit the club.

Austin Buchanan 6.5

P16, T8

The veteran winger was in and out due to injuries, hampering his ability to have the influence that had been hoped. Doesn't possess the speed he once had but his experience was missed when not on the pitch.

Ben Dent 6

P16, T4, G1

Generally disappointing season given his past campaigns, not helped by niggling injuries and missing much of pre-season.

Pat Smith 7

P15, T3

Missed all of pre-season due to work so had to play catch-up to get back into the team. Still showed nous at hooker, offering a good alternative to Harry Carter as Kriss Brining's interchange.

Brad Hey 6

P15, T3

Possibly didn't kick on as much as had been hoped but potential remains as either back-row or centre.

Tommy Saxton 7.5

P13, P3

Former Super League winger no longer has the pace of times past but his offload game brought a new dimension to York's back line on his arrival from Featherstone.

Richard Wilkinson 6.5

P13, T6, G5

Signing from Doncaster had a fine start, looking exciting at full-back after being switched from half-back. But became less effective, not coming back form injury in much form, and "retired" aged 22 before the season ended, prior to travelling the world. Helped out by playing in last game of Super 8s.

Tyler Craig 6.5

P12, T7, G18

The former Heworth ARLC junior had his moments for sure and with tough consistency still has the tools to make a difference at this level.

Jordan Crowther 7

P10, T5

The Wakefield loanee quickly impressed on his arrival and was a loss when he returned to his parent club.

Brett Turner 7

P10, T9, C5.

Having been switched to wing on his latest go in the pro arena, the Hull-based flier bagged almost a try a game, including an incredible solo effort against Rochdale. For whatever reason he departed midway through the season.

Adam Dent 6.5

P9, T3

Again patient for his opportunities and again never let anyone down when he got them. Doesn't possess the natural physical capabilities of some, but is an intelligent player with excellent hands.

Ryan Mallinder 6

P9, T3

Hard and solid as ever in the second row before injury ended his season prematurely.

Andy Smith 6

P9, T2

James Ford maybe couldn't work out the big former Bradford winger's best position on his return to the game after a few years away. Smith certainly had the size and power but so much time out made it harder to get match sharpness than maybe anticipated.

Jack Anderson 6

P7, T1

Did a job when called upon in his debut season at this level.

Ross Osbourne 6.5

P7

Decent enough effort up top from the big on-loan Hull youngster but lacked some mobility.

James Haynes 7

P6, T2

Major achievement to come back from his knee reconstruction - the last of a long line of potentially career-ending injuries for the full-back. Impressively solid on his return too, barring one dodgy show against Doncaster.

Matty Dale 6

P6

Obviously possessed quality and experience on his arrival from Featherstone but his season was hampered by injuries.

Brandon Westerman 6.5

P5, T2

Overcame confusion over his no-show for the Super 8s trip to Toulouse to break into the team and his man-of-the-match two-try display in Super 8s win over London Skolars showed the Cas loanee is one for the future.

Connor Bower 6

P5, T1

Hull loanee looked a solid acquisition at start of term but soon returned to parent club.

Others: Micky Learmonth P4 (didn't look out of place on his return after missing most of the campaign due to horror pectoral injury in pre-season); Ross Divorty P4 (injury cut short the heralded return of the local favourite); Harry Tyson-Wilson P3, T4, G14; Sam Smeaton P3, T1; Adam Robinson P3, T3 (three impressive loans were all frustratingly cut short); Nev Morrison P1, T1; Brad Nicholson P1 (both left after game one).