York City Knights Rugby League Club Team - Player and personnel information | The Press, York

Peter Martini takes a look at all the players and personnel in the Knights “family” at the start of the 2012 season.

Jack Aldous
Position: prop
Dob: 3/4/91
Small for a prop but with a huge heart, he spent a month on loan from Hull last summer and joined on permanent deal in the off-season.

Alex Benson
Position: prop
Dob: 22/5/85
Reliable up front, he is also intelligent and articulate, qualities which helped him to get the captaincy last year and club captaincy this year, after helping York to promotion in 2010.

Kris Brining
Position: hooker
Dob: 16/11/93
Former scholarship starlet became Knights’ youngest-ever player when entering as a substitute at Widnes in April aged 17 years and 148 days. Highly-regarded by the coaching staff.

Brooke Broughton
Position: prop/second-row
Dob: 30/10/90
Joined in January on dual-reg from Super League table-toppers Warrington. Younger brother of Salford’s “fastest man in Super League” Jodie and, while he does not possess such blistering pace, is similarly athletic.

Davey Burns
Position: prop
Dob: 22/6/86
Struggled to make an impact on debut season after joining from York Acorn ARLC and needs to boost confidence, but is giving it another shot and rightly so.

Tom Bush
Position: full-back/winger
Dob: 25/1/90
Indifferent first few games at York after arriving from Leeds’ academy a year ago, but he soon became number one choice at full-back. Slight but strong and with an ever-improving reading of the game.

Rhys Clarke
Position: second-row/loose-forward
Dob: 12/3/91
A relative unknown when joining from Gateshead a year ago but was a regular starter. A youngster who, it is hoped, will have improved a great deal for that season.

Ben Dent
Position: full-back
Dob: 27/9/91
Rose out of the New Earswick amateur ranks to impress in the Knights’ reserves last term and win himself a first-team contract.

George Elliott
Position: centre
Dob: 21/9/91
Former Easingwold School pupil who has signed from Leeds, having struggled to break into the Rhinos’ first team. A strapping centre, he was one of England’s brightest dual-code starlets, being a youth international in league and union. Started with York RUFC before trying his hand with New Earswick ARLC aged 15.

James Ford
Position: centre/winger
Dob: 29/9/82
Previously a prolific try-scorer with Sheffield and also had a stint in Super League with Castleford, but his career stalled at Widnes primarily due to injuries. Joined York on loan last summer before making the switch permanent. Also now employed in coaching role – and named team captain on the eve of the season. One of a few rugby league players to be subject of an entertaining write-up on Wikipedia.

Matt Garside
Position: second-row/centre
Dob: 1/10/90
Student international who, like Clarke, was largely unknown when arriving from Gateshead Thunder but the youngster, from Huddersfield often caught the eye and ended term as the club’s second-top try-scorer (he would have been top but for Jonny Presley’s six in the Challenge Cup tie against Northumbria Uni). Another to hopefully come on for that season.

John Gay
Position: hooker/half-back
Dob: 8/7/91
Successful pre-season trial – training despite a splint on a broken finger – brought contract talks for the former Hull KR youngster. Not the biggest, but showed up well in friendlies.

Chris Green
Position: second-row/loose-forward
Dob: 03/01/90
6ft 5in forward joined on the eve of the season on dual-reg from Hull. On the fringes of the Airlie Birds’ first team so good things are expected.

Tommy Haughey
Position: second-row/centre
Dob: 30/1/82
Powerful unit who was often a scourge of York as an opponent with Hunslet, from whom he has signed, and Featherstone. Has also played in Super League with Wakefield, Castleford and London Broncos, and is an Ireland international.

James Haynes
Position: full-back
Dob: 22/3/89
Joined York towards end of 2010 season and helped the club to promotion through the play-offs. Powerful and punchy for his size, he also offers utility value, able to fill in at half-back and across the three-quarters.

Ben Hellewell
Position: utility back
Dob: 30/01/92
Like Broughton, he joined in January on dual-reg from Super League favourites Warrington, likewise on the recommendation of the Wolves’ head coach, former Great Britain boss Tony Smith. Such regard means hopes are high both can shine in the Championship.

Joe Hemmings
Position: second-row
Dob: 10/1/89
Hard-working back-rower who made two appearances late last season having risen out of the amateur game with New Earswick. Big step up but who says he can’t make it?

James Houston
Position: prop/back-rower
Dob: 28/12/82
Another player who joined from Hunslet in the off-season. The former Featherstone man was one of the Hawks’ players of the year when they won 2010 Championship One crown.

Adam Howard
Position: prop
Dob: 22/7/87
Big “dreadlocked destroyer” caught the fans’ eyes in pre-season last term but had little experience of rugby league, having been an amateur in the North East after switching from rugby union, and so has had to bide his time. Has huge physical presence but is still learning the game.

Paul King
Position: prop
Dob: 28/6/79
Talented and forceful forward who played more than 250 games in Super League, primarily for home-town club Hull and then Wakefield, and also won a GB cap. Released by Wildcats near the end of last season and spent a month in Championship One with Whitehaven before becoming a major signing of York’s off-season.

Jack Lee
Position: hooker
Dob: 1/11/88
The Press Player of the Year in 2010 and a contender again last year, he has had a big impact since his arrival from Featherstone. It was an important moment for the club when he turned down overtures from Grand Finalists Sheffield to sign new deal late last season.

Laurence Pearce
Position: second-row
Dob: 03/12/90
Rugby union convert who joined on eve of season on dual-reg from Hull. A huge lad – 6ft 4in and 19st – looking to make a huge impact.

Waine Pryce
Position: winger
Dob: 3/10/81
Another recruit from Hunslet, the former Castleford try-machine and one-time England ‘A’ wingman offers size, strength and Super League experience to York’s outside backs. Has also played for Wakefield and Featherstone. Part of the Pryce family with strong links to York – uncle Dennis, and his cousins, Steve and Geoff, all played for the old Wasps club.

Ed Smith
Position: second-row
Dob: 12/11/92
Still a teenager and a local product, he made 11 first-team appearances last term having become the Knights’ youngest-ever player in 2010 (a record since broken by Brining). Hopes are high he can go far in the game.

Jack Stearman
Position: prop
Dob: 30/1/88
A surprise package of 2010 when he overcame doubts over fitness levels to become an impact player in the Knights’ play-off success. Chances at higher level last season were limited, and, while he is working hard on his fitness, those opportunities might not be aided by the reduction in the number of interchanges allowed this year. A good local lad in the dressing room and works for community department.

Adam Sullivan
Position: prop
Dob: 14/11/82
Spent last two seasons at Hunslet after five years and 130 games at York, and returns to add size and experience to new-look Knights pack. A player of the year and Championship One (formerly National League One) winner with both these clubs, he began his career at Hull KR and has also had a spell in France.

Dave Sutton
Position: winger/centre
Dob: 21/9/89
Fleet-footed former St Helens academy player suffered some inconsistency last season but should be all the better for a first full term at senior level.

Jordan Tansey
Position: full-back/half-back
Dob: 9/9/86
Marquee signing of the off-season when joining in the New Year. Former Leeds, Sydney, Hull and Crusaders player earned bad boy reputation for in-house rule breaches at last two clubs, but is aiming to shine in bid to get back to Super League. If successful, he could be one of the Championship’s best players.

Chris Thorman
Position: half-back
Dob: 26/9/80
Major signing ahead of the 2009 season as player/assistant-coach to firstly James Ratcliffe then Dave Woods. He was the on-field organiser as the Knights won 2010 Championship One play-offs. A former top-tier star in England and Australia and an ex-England captain.

Brett Turner
Position: half-back/hooker
Dob: 1/12/87
Former Doncaster playmaker is trying his luck again in the Championships after shining with West Hull in the top amateur arena. Good sidestep, and a leading scorer at West Hull.

Lee Williams
Position: half-back/hooker
Dob: 10/11/91
Arrived from Hull’s academy in the off-season with high hopes of making a name for himself in the Championship. Small but nippy, with a decent left foot and with signs of being a good organiser despite tender years.