YORK City Knights’ forward pack for 2012 is virtually complete after the club confirmed the signings of James Houston and Jack Aldous – with boss Chris Thorman acclaiming the competition for places they now have up front.

Houston, 28, has finally sealed his one-year deal after weeks of speculation to join fellow prop Adam Sullivan in completing the move from Championship rivals Hunslet, while 20-year-old Aldous, who had a three-match loan spell at Huntington Stadium in the summer, likewise has a 12-month contract after departing Hull.

Big prop Brett Waller has rejected a new offer from York to instead join a group of ex-Knights at Championship One side Gateshead, but Thorman’s ranks nevertheless now comprise seven front-rowers, and the player-coach says attentions will turn to other positions – most notably half-back – as the club look to put the finishing touches to the squad.

The seven are captain Alex Benson, big-name recruit Paul King, whose arrival was revealed in The Press yesterday, Sullivan, Houston, Aldous and Championship hopefuls Adam Howard and Davey Burns. Local lad Jack Stearman is also likely to re-sign over the winter and hopes to be fit for the start of the season after dislocating an elbow playing for Scotland last weekend.

Houston, 28, was Hunslet’s player of the year when they won the 2010 Championship One title – being succeeded this year by Sullivan – and, says player-coach Thorman, he offers experience and versatility.

“He was previously at Featherstone and has had a really good couple of years for Hunslet,” said the Geordie.

“He can play front-row, back-row and as that middle link man. A lot of teams go with an extra front-rower at loose-forward and he offers us that option.

“He’s not your typical ball-playing loose-forward but he will do a lot of work, tidying up a lot of stuff, lots of the unsung work.

“James Ford (player/assistant-coach) speaks very highly of him and, with me being in my infancy as a head coach, I will need the senior players to step up to the mark and James Houston’s one of them.”

Thorman, a former player at Hull, also had high hopes of pocket rocket Aldous.

“He was well known around the KC Stadium for having the biggest heart and, pound for pound, being the most courageous. He will put his head in where it hurts, and if you ask him to do something he will do it.

“He’s quite unassuming but on the training field no-one will want to wrestle with him or fight him.

“The reason he’s not in Super League yet is probably his height and size – he’s not the biggest for the position he plays. But he’s young and he will do a great job for us.

“He’s got no preconceptions about anything. He’ll do what he’s asked and he will learn. I want him to ask questions and put points forward, but he’s willing to do everything it takes to succeed in this game. He’s a good young pro and just what we need.”

The Press understands Waller turned down slightly improved forms to join Thunder. York had plucked him out of the Hull amateur game in 2009 and he burst onto the first-team scene in 2010, being voted the February Player of the Month by The Press readers and going on to make 16 appearances as an impact prop before a bad knee injury ended his season at the end of July. He returned to action in April and made 11 appearances this year but without hitting similar highs. He scored seven tries last year and two this year.

Thorman said: “I’ve spoken to Brett and I wish him all the best. I’ve got a lot of time for him but he’s decided to go that way.”

As for his 2012 pack, he added: “Competition for places is good. You’ve got to be strong in this area and I think we are.”

Winger Dennis Tuffour has left York for Hunslet. Tuffour scored nine tries in 11 games on loan from Hull in 2010 but only three in 11 this year after making the switch permanent but taking a while to break into Dave Woods’ team.