Thorman hails ‘Super League’ signing Jordan Tansey (From York Press)

Thorman hails ‘Super League’ signing Jordan Tansey

12:00pm Monday 9th January 2012 in Knights RL By Peter Martini, peter.martini@thepress.co.uk

CHRIS THORMAN will be delighted if York City Knights’ shock new recruit Jordan Tansey wins a place back in rugby league’s top tier – as it means he will have shone at Huntington Stadium.

As revealed on Saturday, the 25-year-old full-back cum half-back – a recent bad boy of Super League – was at the Knights’ team photo-shoot on Saturday morning, and the club confirmed the signing at yesterday’s opening friendly of 2012, a 28-26 loss to Championship rivals Keighley.

York also announced the arrival on dual-registration forms of highly-rated Warrington youngsters Brooke Broughton – the younger brother of Salford speedster Jodie Broughton – and Ben Hellewell.

Broughton, who had a dual-reg spell with Dewsbury last year, is an athletic forward, while Hellewell can play across the back line. Both are Yorkshire-based.

Tansey, though, who shot to fame as part of Leeds’ champion Super League teams in 2007 and 2008 and then had a year in Australia with Sydney Roosters, is the most notable recruit, probably of the winter.

He hit controversy over the past 12 months after returning to England with Hull in 2010.

He was sacked by the Airlie Birds on the eve of the 2011 season for breaking club rules a third time – reportedly drink-related – and, after joining then Super League club Crusaders in March, was one of seven players suspended for a match in July for breaching club discipline.

He was left without a club on Crusaders’ withdrawal from that competition but now has a chance to relaunch his career in the Championship at York – with player-boss Thorman confident the Leeds-born ace will have learned from his mistakes. Thorman also says he will do “everything I can” to aid Tansey’s desire to get back to the top echelons of domestic rugby.

Tansey himself wrote on Twitter: “People might see it as a step back, but I see it as a new challenge to get back to were I wanna be.”

And Thorman told The Press: “He sees his future in Super League and I do too because he’s that good. If Jordan’s playing well so a Super League club comes along then it means he’s doing well for us and that can only benefit the club.

“Maybe he’s done a few things wrong along the way but I’m sure he’s learned his lessons. This might be a bit of a reality check with him but it’s also a springboard. As long as you learn from mistakes then it’s okay. If you continue to make mistakes, opportunities will become few and far between. I think he understands what it’s all about.”

Thorman added: “He’s been well-schooled at Leeds and then he took an opportunity to go to the NRL like myself, which can completely change your perspective on rugby league and life in general. He’s come back and played for Hull and Crusaders.

“If he earns the right to play Super League again that means he’s been good for us, and I’m more than willing to aid him however I can in that.”

As for Ben Hellewell and Broughton, who will link up with the Knights on Tuesday and could like Tansey make their bows in the pre-season friendly against Leeds on Sunday, Thorman said: “I spent some time with Tony Smith (Warrington boss) and the Warrington club a couple of weeks ago and they are two highly rated players. They will add quality and strength in depth to the squad.”