‘Make the shirt your own’ Thorman tells Knights

12:10pm Saturday 30th January 2010

By Peter Martini

CHRIS THORMAN has urged his opening-day squad to prove they are well worth their selection – warning there will be plenty of players itching to take their place.

York City Knights kick off their 2010 campaign tomorrow with a Northern Rail Cup group game away to Rochdale Hornets (3pm).

And while player-coach Thorman has told the new-look line-up they deserved their berths after their pre-season performances, he has stressed they must now step up to the plate in competitive action given the strength in depth at his disposal.

“There are a few people who have put their hand up and have warranted playing in this first squad, and it’s now up to them to keep their shirt,” said the half-back, who is taking the reins in the absence of suspended head coach James Ratcliffe.

“There are some players who are unlucky not to be in there. It’s up to them to mask their disappointment – hopefully they are disappointed – and react in the right way.”

It is a measure of this apparent squad strength that Mark Applegarth, who took a clean sweep of Player of the Year awards last year, cannot be sure of a place on the bench tomorrow, with six players vying for the four substitute berths.

Notable omissions from the 19-man squad include Steve Lewis, a first-choice winger last season, speedster Tom Lineham, Luke Helliwell, who showed up well in pre-season, and scrum-half Jonathan Schofield.

Thorman said: “I think pretty much everyone who has taken part (in pre-season) so far could step in. From what I’ve been told regard-ing last season, if we got a couple of injuries you were unsure about the people who would come in.

“I think this season we’re stronger across the board. You could randomly pick one player and you would have adequate cover for him.”

Thorman has been satisfied with what he has seen in friendly encounters, but knew that counted little towards the cup or league campaign.

“The trial games have seen steady improvement, but we’re going to come across some much better teams in competition,” he said.

“We were just happy to play those games given the weather we had. They were really important to get building blocks in place and give us something to work on, so we’ve got to thank everyone at the club for making sure the pitch was playable.

“But it’s always unknown territory going into your first game. Rochdale will be in a similar boat to us and they will want to perform, especially in front of their own fans. We’re expecting a tough game.

“It’s a really good time to find out where we’re at and how well we have trained. You always tend to think you’ve prepared really well but then you can find you’ve still got a lot of hard work to do.”

The Knights will be led out for the first time in a competitive environment by Richard Blakeway, who was confirmed as captain two days ago.

He warned his side could face a battle. “Rochdale are pretty similar to us in being a new team,” he said. “They’ve also cleared a lot out and have a lot of new players in. I think it’s going to be a good challenge.

“For me the league is the priority but we will take every game as it comes and if we get somewhere (in the Northern Rail Cup) then that’s great.”

Hornets: from English, Duffy, Fagborun, Saywell, Gorton, Bloomfield, Smith, Johnson, Hough, Roper, Raftery, Wood, Hatton, Cocker, Corcoran, Hobson, Donoghue, Wayne, Taylor, Bostock, Tunstead, Cookson, Hore, Ashall.

Knights: Ratcliffe, Wilson, Waterman, Mitchell, Reittie, Thorman, Bromilow, Freer, McLocklan, Benson, Ross, Hill, Blakeway. Subs: from Waller, Stamp, Clough, Applegarth, Peacock, Barrow.