Club captain Benson in arm band of brothers at Knights (From York Press)

Club captain Alex Benson in arm band of brothers at Knights

11:50am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Knights RL By Peter Martini, peter.martini@thepress.co.uk

ALEX BENSON is to continue as York City Knights’ club captain this year – but there will be a new team skipper by the time the campaign kicks off.

Prop forward Benson captained the Knights last season and will again be a key figure in a new-look leadership group which new player-boss Chris Thorman is set to appoint this season.

James Haynes and James Ford led the side out in the recent pre-season fixtures but Thorman was keeping close to his chest the identity of the team captain and two vice-skippers that are being lined up to join the 26-year-old in a quartet of nominated chieftains.

Announcements are likely later this week, though Thorman had little hesitation in confirming Benson would continue as one of the club’s head boys.

“It doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to play or to start – and we do have a lot of competition for places at prop – but everyone admires Alex for his application on the training field and the stuff he does away from the game,” said the Geordie.

“He’s a consummate professional and a good role model for the club to have.

“I also wanted to reward his efforts last season. I don’t think he gets the recognition he deserves sometimes. He sets a good example for our juniors as well.”

The armband on match-days is likely to be given to a player who is a good bet to regularly start games – barring a dip in form – and Benson is perhaps no longer guaranteed a place in the 13 like last year given the additional strength in depth in the front-row.

His regular prop partner last year, Nathan Freer, is now at Featherstone and Brett Waller has gone to Gateshead.

But ex-Hull favourite Paul King, former Knights and Hunslet player of the year Adam Sullivan, James Houston, pocket rocket Jack Aldous and dual-reg Warrington hopeful Brooke Broughton have joined the front-row ranks this winter.

Meanwhile, Davey Burns, Joe Hemmings, Jack Stearman and the much-improved Adam Howard are all hoping to knock hard on the first-team pack door this year.

Thorman added: “In his position in particular we’re looking really strong so Alex, along with all the other props, know they will have to turn it on every week to get in the team.”

Other contenders for the captaincy roles could be Sullivan, who is back at the club he served for six years before his 2010 switch to Hunslet, Paul King, a Super League regular for virtually all his career before his switch to the Knights, and hooker Jack Lee, a vice-captain last year.

Should Thorman want his skipper to be a player who is likely to be on the field for the full 80 minutes – unlike most props and hookers – then veteran winger Waine Pryce, once of Super League, and the aforementioned Ford and Haynes could be in the running.

Former Leeds and Hull ace Jordan Tansey might also be an outside bet for additional responsibility, while Tommy Haughey is a player with vast experience.

Thorman will almost certainly not take on the armband himself.

• Hunslet Hawks were expected to confirm the re-signing of former Knights half-back Danny Grimshaw from Featherstone today. The Knights’ Championship rivals were officially taken over by fans’ group Hunslet Independent Supporters’ Trust yesterday.