FIVE-star utility player Mark Cain is to stay at home-town club York City Knights.

The 28-year-old, who set a new Knights record of five tries in a match in last month's play-off semi-final against Workington Town, was the first player to ever sign for the new-look club back in October 2002 and - as predicted by the Evening Press - agreed a renewed deal last night.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "We're obviously pleased to have Mark back on board. I think Mark's 2004 season got better and better as it went along and he's looking for a big season in 2005."

Cain, the first player to notch a hat-trick for the Knights, was the team's third-highest try-scorer in their inaugural 2003 season with 13 and bettered that last season with 14 - all of them coming in the space of 20 games in the second half of the campaign - making him the club's joint-highest try-scorer since its inception, alongside Alex Godfrey.

He started most of last season's matches on the bench - including the match in which he scored five tries - and throughout the campaign played in the plethora of positions, including full-back, centre, second-row and loose-forward.

The product of amateur club New Earswick All Blacks has also played at half-back during his professional career, which began at York Wasps and has also taken him to Dewsbury and Hull KR.

Ferres added: "He'll be looking to establish himself as a starter in the side in the back-row or loose-forward positions. It's been a transitional period for Mark, moving from a backs position to the forwards but he's handled it very well and he's ready to build on that."

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, November 11, 2004