NEW wing star Craig Farrell reckons joining York City Knights was the best thing he could have done - and he's eager to make it even better.

The 22-year-old, who came from Hull KR in the deal which saw Adam Sullivan and Dean Andrews also arrive and Damian Ball go the other way, has so far notched four tries in his first five games for the club.

He reckons there is more to come, however, and is keen to do his bit in the Knights ongoing promotion push.

"I'm really enjoying it," said the Scarborough-based fliyer. "It's definitely been a good decision to come to York at this stage in my career. I think it was one of the best decisions I could have made."

One bonus was the fact Farrell already knew about half the Knights squad before he signed - not least Chris Langley, with whom he is studying sports studies and PE at York St John College.

"All the lads are great. I knew a lot of them beforehand and I fitted in quite easily. It's been made easier with Sully and Deano moving as well, and Chris Spurr came at the same time as another new lad. I get on really well with everybody."

As for his and the Knights' form, he said: "I think I've been doing quite well but I would like to improve coming in to the play-offs. I scored a try in each of my first four games and, although I don't think I've been particularly poor, I don't think I've been playing as well as I can and now is a good time to raise my game further.

"Automatic promotion is still possible but, looking at the fixtures, unless Gateshead or Dewsbury can pull something out of the bag against (leaders) Barrow, we'll be in the play-offs.

"But we're going to concentrate on our performance. Our results are the only thing we can control and we've been really professional recently. We just have to keep winning."

Regarding the potential of promotion through the play-offs, he said: "If we have to go through the play-offs then I'd relish it because it could be a great experience.

"My mate Lee Patterson won the final with Keighley Cougars last season and said it was brilliant.

"Hull KR got to the semi-final last year (in NL1) and got beat by Leigh, and I'm looking to going through the whole system. It brings a team closer together as you know you've only got one shot."

Farrell initially joined until the end of this season and, although he was keeping his options open for next term, he would be happy to stay at Huntington Stadium.

"I've no plans for next year," he explained. "I'm not too sure what I'm doing and I'll see what happens, but I'd like to stay at York. I live in Scarborough and I'm at uni in York so it would be ideal in that respect.

"But I don't want to jump into anything and make any decisions until the end of the season when I can think about things with a bit more time."

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, September 04, 2004