THE Press revealed at the end of January that, amid the rankling over the community stadium saga, Knights fans were looking into starting an official Supporters' Trust with the view of getting a seat on the club's board.

Well, those tentative plans might have received a fillip this week after it was announced the game's governing body, the Rugby Football League, had agreed a partnership with Supporters Direct that will see the two organisations work together to foster closer relationships between fans and clubs.

Supporters Direct are probably most prominent in football but have also helped to establish almost 20 Supporters’ Trusts in rugby league since forming the first at Widnes Vikings.

They have gone on to establish supporters’ trusts and help six clubs all over the country – including Rochdale Hornets, Hemel Stags and the Knights' arch-rivals, Hunslet Hawks – into supporter community ownership.

RFL director of projects and planning Jon Dutton said: “Supporters Direct have an important role to play in rugby league by providing support and advice to clubs and fans who wish to work together for the mutual benefit of everyone.

“All our clubs are deeply rooted in their own communities and Supporters Direct bring the experience and expertise that will ensure we make the most of those important relationships.

“I have seen what Supporters Direct have achieved predominantly in football and this partnership will help to ensure that supporters have the ability to further develop a constructive voice in how the sport represents their interests in local communities.”

Supporters Direct chief executive Robin Osterley said: “I’d like to thank the RFL for their cooperation and support for our work. What we do as an organisation is not isolated to one sport, one level or one country.

“We believe the tremendous good that we have done elsewhere can develop and grow even more in rugby league, and we look forward to helping other supporters to find their voice in the game, and work more closely with their clubs and their charitable arm, Rugby League Cares.”

 

SUPER League and former NRL star Gareth Ellis - who kicked off life in the pro arena in York's reserves in the late 1990s - was poised to rack up the 400th appearance of his stellar career last night.

Ellis was on 399 first-grade outings prior to Hull's trip to Wigan, where he was set to hit a milestone figure reached by only few heroes of the modern game.

Since swapping York for Wakefield, his club appearances have been for the Wildcats (112 games, 1999-2004), Leeds (123 games, 2005-2008), Wests Tigers (75 games, 2009-2012) and Hull (43 games, 2013-2015).

He has also represented Great Britain (17 Tests and 1 non-Test, 2003-2007), England (23 games, 2008-2013), England 'A' (4 games, 2002) and Yorkshire (1 game, 2003).

 

TALKING of personal milestones, Danny Brough, who became a firm favourite and point-scoring record-breaker when he famously kick-started his career at Huntington Stadium back in 2003, has been closing in on one of his own - a century of touchdowns in first-grade rugby.

Ahead of this weekend's fixtures, the Huddersfield and Scotland playmaker had 96 to his name, including 20 in 53 appearances for the Knights - his 15 in 2004 having helped him to smash an age-old points-in-a-season record for York RL when he rattled up 412.

In total, his tries have been scored as follows: four for Dewsbury (2002-2003), 20 for York (2003-2004), three for Hull (2005-2006), 12 for Castleford (2006-2007), 19 for Wakefield (2008-2010), 34 for Huddersfield (2010-2014) and four for Scotland (2004-2008, 2010 & 2013-2014).

He was also needing only eight goals to reach 500 for Huddersfield. , having kicked 492 conversions and penalties in 142 games for the Giants.

York Press:

ED SMITH has surged to the summit in the early The Press Player of the Year standings.

The second-row was named our man of the match in last week's dogged Challenge Cup win at South Wales Scorpions, following on from the opening iPro Sport Cup win at London Skolars in which he was rated our second best player.

The man of the match in each game is awarded three Player of the Year points, with the second best player gaining two and third best one.

The other players to pick up points in South Wales were full-back James Haynes (2pts), who was in contention for the top accolade before going off with a back injury, and Mark Applegarth (1pt).

The Press Player of the Year standings: E Smith 5pts, Cunningham 3, Haynes 2, Aspinall 1, Applegarth 1.