“WE’VE got to try and build these boys back up.”

That is the message from York Knights head coach Andrew Henderson as his side prepare to do battle with Sheffield Eagles for a place in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup final on Sunday (3pm).

The Knights head into the sides’ semi-final off the back of an abject performance against Whitehaven last weekend - during which both Henderson, and his players, were booed from the field at the LNER Community Stadium by disgruntled supporters.

Whilst the 1895 Cup and the prospect of playing at Wembley Stadium will undoubtedly provide a welcome distraction from their dismal start to the Betfred Championship season, Henderson insists instilling confidence back into his squad is of the utmost importance.

“We’ve got to try and build these boys back up,” he stressed to BBC Radio York.

“I think it’s pretty plain to see that we’re in a tough place at the moment - individually and collectively.

“We’re certainly not playing as well as we’d like to be playing, and we’re doing it tough.

“For us at the moment, we’ve got to try and build these boys back up to be able to perform to the levels that we know they are capable of performing to, that’s the task for us coaches.

“We’ve got to be honest with the players in regards to their performance levels, but we’ve also got to remind them of the quality of players that they are.

“They are quality, they’re a good team and they’re a capable team. We’re just not showing that at the moment.

“But I certainly believe that we can get those fellows back to where they need to be.”

York Press: Henderson and his players were booed from the pitch after an abysmal first half on Sunday.Henderson and his players were booed from the pitch after an abysmal first half on Sunday. (Image: Craig Hawkhead)

It was perhaps the Knights’ effort levels that drew the most criticism, for a 36-point deficit was always likely to prove a bridge too far.

As for why his side’s application and effort levels were so low, particularly during the opening half, Henderson replied: “I wish I had the answer.

“But I think it’s something that we’ve not demonstrated consistently enough or well enough this season.

“I felt in 2023, we really created an identity and a DNA about us that we were a tough team to beat and that we competed hard. I think we were proud, even though we had some results not go our way last season – we were still proud in defeat because of the way we did compete and showed that effort, attitude and application.

“We understood the position that we were in, we had to blood a lot of young players and we had a lot of players out of position, it’s a very similar situation to what we are in at the moment.

“But the difference for me is that we competed hard in the majority of those fixtures. I just feel that at the moment, we’ve had to question at times that effort, attitude and desire in certain games this year.

“But I know that the players have got that in their locker, we just have to remind them of that and get them back to competing hard and being that effort-based team that we were last year.”

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He admitted that as well as the players, his management team must also take a look at themselves after Sunday’s defeat.

“Absolutely,” he insisted. “We’ve got to.

“We’ve got to take a look at ourselves and our coaching methods, what we’re delivering and how we’re delivering it. We’ve got to make sure that the information that we’re giving our players each week and the areas that we’re focusing on in training - we’ve got to make sure that we’re delivering that in a way that they’re going to respond to as well.

“100 per cent we have to look at ourselves.

“We’re obviously challenging ourselves to reflect and be accountable to ourselves and to each other and try and improve certain areas to improve performance, ultimately as coaches, we’ve got to do the same thing.

“We have to be honest there. We can’t just say that it’s all down to the players. We’re a team. We play our part as much as the players play their part.

“All staff members do, so we’ll have a look at everything and make sure that we do the best we can to service the players - that’s what we’re there for as performance staff, whether that’s as coaches, sport science or physios.

“We’re there to service the needs of the players, support them, encourage them, develop them, challenge them when needed, to get the best out of them.

“We’re all in it together, so we’re all as accountable as one another."