SCOTT RHODES reckons rugby league in the Minster city could receive a two-way boost if more York City Knights reserve players turned out in the local amateur arena.

York Acorn ARLC boss Rhodes, a former Knights skipper, has recently bemoaned a lack of numbers training at Thanet Road and the fact he has to chop and change his National Conference League division one team each week due to unavailability. Neighbours Heworth have also been struggling again in division three.

He thinks one potential solution is for them to loan York's fringe players, which in turn, he believes, would benefit the local lads themselves, such as Heworth product Tyler Craig and ex-Acorn junior Tim Stubbs.

"Wouldn't it be good for them to get more senior games under their belt?" said Rhodes. "We're playing against decent teams in the Conference. The premier division is very tough, and division one is pretty good.

"I think if the Knights' reserve-grade played our full-strength team, we would run them close. If they came up against an Egremont away or an East Leeds, there's a good chance they'd be beaten.

"These are good teams who are well-coached, and I think York's reserves players could learn a bit more by playing senior rugby. It has been discussed but I don't know if it's feasible."

A dual-registration system between semi-pro and amateur clubs, similar to that partnering full-time clubs with part-time outfits, has long been mooted in rugby league circles but has never got off the ground.

Nevertheless, there is a new partnership in place between the Knights and Acorn - but could it be utilised more? Winger Ryan Gallacher is one player who has recently made the switch back to his junior club having remained on the fringes at the Knights, but there has been little other movement.

"It would help us out - Acorn, Heworth, New Earswick - and I think it would be better for those players," said Rhodes, pointing out the Knights' reserves no longer play in the Under-20s Championship and instead arrange matches as and when.

"How many games, for example, has Tim Stubbs played in the last few years? Is it enough? Training is great and they'll get coached very well there, but should they be playing more? I don't know. I just believe players need to play."

Acorn, who got back to winning ways in NCL division one at Dewsbury last time out despite having to call off a training session, host Saddleworth today. Rhodes explained the difficulties the Blue and Golds faced.

"We're losing four or five players each week for one reason or another so you can't get the same personnel on the pitch," he said.

"You can't get continuity and it's tough playing people out of position all the time. But it's amateur rugby - they don't get paid and they have other commitments. Family and work is more important.

"I coach whatever comes through the gates. A couple of weeks ago we had to call off a session because there weren't enough. I can't do a session on the pitch with 13 players, so they went in the gym. To do a decent session you need at least 20 and for the first time I didn't get that due to injuries, work, doing things with families. Was it because it was Easter?

"Whether it's because it's summer rugby, I don't know. Personally I'm all for summer rugby but I know other coaches are struggling with it too. It's disappointing but what can you do?

"It goes for me as well. I have a family and commitments and people do more in the summer and less in the winter. Going to winter rugby again I think would be a big step back, but it's difficult.

"We've got lots of good young players coming through - a lot are already in the first team - but we have a few players coming towards the end of their careers in the next few years. It will be a test."


TALKING of playing a sufficient number of games, look at the difference since Danny Brough played for the Knights.

This column mentioned last week that Scotland and Super League captain Brough was closing in on reaching 1,000 points for Huddersfield - a personal milestone he will surely pass today as the Giants go to London Broncos, with the goal-kicking half-back now needing just three more points to top four figures.

The 31-year-old, of course, holds the all-time York RL records of 412 points in a season (smashing Graham Steadman’s 1984-85 best of 318) and 178 goals in a season (eclipsing Vic Yorke’s record of 146 set in 1957-58).

Now, Brough’s records were set in 2004, when the team played a total of 36 matches.

Ten years on, and the Knights will play only 22 this season, including their two Challenge Cup ties. That is a drop of more than a third.

There has been plenty of talk of player burn-out and player welfare etc in the game of rugby league, but to go from a 36-match season to 22...? Something is surely amiss.

For statos out there, Brough played a total of 53 games in all for the Knights, scoring 20 tries, 265 goals and six drop goals for a total of 616 points - averaging 11.6 points per match.


A CURRENT Knights player, Nathan Freer, is likewise about to reach a personal milestone this week.

Assuming he plays tomorrow, it will be Nathan Freer's 100th career appearance.

His current tally of 99 comprises 19 for Doncaster (2008-2009), two for Featherstone (2012) and 78 for York (2010-2011 and 2012-2014).


Duo in Team of Week - but why no Haynes?

THE Knights had two players in the Kingstone Press Championship One Team of the Week again this week - but not including man-of-the-month James Haynes.

Captain Jack Lee was picked at hooker, with on-loan centre James Saltonstall also named in the form team.

Haynes was The Press man of the match for the second week running, but the number one shirt in the Team of the Week was given to Hemel Stags’ James Cameron, whose side pipped Gloucestershire All Golds 21-20.

We’ll all get to see Cameron in action this weekend as the Stags come to Huntington Stadium, but unfortunately not up against Haynes, who is ruled out by injury.

Meanwhile, Haynes has jumped up to second in The Press Player of the Year standings after adding three points to his tally for last week’s performance against London Skolars.

Saltonstall was awarded two points having been rated our second-best performer, and Ed Smith got one point as our third-best. Lee got none this week but still tops the leaderboard.

The Press Player of the Year leaderboard: Lee 10pts, Haynes 9, Aldous 8, Paterson 5, Saltonstall 4, Presley 4, P Smith 3, Bell 3, B Hardcastle 2, E Smith 2, Minikin 1, Morrison 1, Mallinder 1, Reynolds 1.