HARRY CARTER has hailed the impact Andy Ellis has had on him since arriving at Bootham Crescent – while also relishing the extra competition he now has for a hooking role at York City Knights.

Carter was a last-minute replacement for Ellis on Sunday – literally - and duly gave an impressive cameo performance in his stead, scoring a superb solo try too in the 64-12 thrashing of Coventry Bears.

He says the “tricks of the trade” he is learning from the former Super League star are making him a better dummy-half, even if the 32-year-old’s arrival in March has at the same time made it harder to get in the line-up.

“With the experience he’s got and his leadership, you listen as he knows what he’s talking about,” said the 23-year-old of the ex-Harlequins hooker and Championship Player of the Year.

“He will give you tricks of the trade and pointers here, there and everywhere.

“In training you can learn a massive amount from him.

“We will be doing drills and having a natter and he’ll be giving you a heads up on areas I could maybe improve and benefit from.

“With the level he’s played at and the things he’s achieved, he’s got a lot to offer younger players.”

Carter, fit again after missing the Gloucestershire All Golds win with a calf strain, had gone to Bootham Crescent on Sunday expecting to be a spectator again.

But luckily he had his boots in the car as he got a call-up a minute before kick-off after Ellis pulled a groin in the warm-up. He was allowed to play despite not being in the official 19-man match-day squad and interchanged the hooking berth with dual-reg Hull KR player Will Jubb.

With former Knights skipper Pat Smith also vying for one of those two spots, it will be interesting to see who coach James Ford selects for Friday’s trip to Newcastle Thunder, especially if Ellis recovers in time.

“For me, that competition is a good thing,” said Carter. “It keeps you on edge and makes you strive to be better, not just be comfortable.

“We’re a tight-knit group and we all respect James Ford’s decisions, and having that competition keeps you on your toes.”

Of his calf injury, he said: “I had three weeks off but I trained all last week and had no problems with it.

“With the lads having a good result the previous weekend I didn’t expect to go straight into the team, but I was hoping to force my way in for Friday.

“The more game-time I was getting, I think I was showing signs of what I was in the team for. My running game was coming into play gradually, and I was hopefully building a bit of form.”

As for the team as a whole, he says League One Super 8s rugby is well within their grasp, especially after climbing to eighth after scoring 120 points in the last two matches.

He would not comment on their play-offs hopes, simply saying: “We want to finish as high as possible.

“With a couple of good Championship teams dropping down (into League One) and Toronto now in there, it makes it harder.

“The expansion clubs have improved as well so you can’t have a week off because if you do you’ll get turned over.

“We’ve seen it already with the likes of Oxford pulling it back against us and getting one over on us.

“We need to build on these last two performances and keep moving forwards as a group.”

He added: “I’m 100 per cent confident we can get into the Super 8s. Everyone is. If people thought otherwise they would not be here.

“We all want the same thing, to win games and be the best we can be.”