NEW York City Knights recruit Mark Stuart is eager to settle in the Minster city as quickly as possible - and help his new team achieve the dream of promotion.

The 23-year-old Australian centre has been snapped up by Knights chief executive Steve Ferres on the advice of contacts Down Under, as the club look to boost the ranks before Friday's National League transfer deadline.

He was today joined at Huntington Stadium by another new signing, former Hull KR, Barrow and Doncaster back-row cum centre John Okul, while Ferres was hopeful of adding more fire-power tomorrow.

A former player for NRL club Cronulla Sharks at reserve grade level, Stuart could play a crucial role in the centres left by the departed Neil Law.

"I hope to add something to the team," he told the Evening Press.

"It will be good to learn the plays and hopefully in the next few weeks I can start playing some good football. It will be hard fitting in straight away but hopefully I should be able to get going quickly.

"The aim is pretty much to get settled in, play good football, help the club to get into the Grand Final and get up into the First Division. It's definitely possible."

Stuart becomes the second Aussie at Huntington Stadium alongside Trevor Krause, but as he has dual nationality - his parents are British - the Knights do not top the overseas quota.

"I was keen to come and play football over here," he explained. "I've been playing in Australia for 16 years and I wanted something different and to meet new people. My manager in Australia said to contact Steve Ferres so I came down here.

"A few friends have played in Super League and they told me York is a really nice place. I've had nothing but good reports about it so it made me keen to come over.

"I had a chat with Trevor Krause as well and he basically loves the joint, so it all added together."

Having watched the Knights' defeat at Swinton on Sunday, Stuart had his first full training session with his new team-mates last night and praised the spirit in the camp.

"They all made me feel really welcome," he said. "I'm looking forward to playing a match with them. They made a few mistakes on Sunday but you get those kind of games."

Ferres said: "We are delighted to have another player of this quality. We wish it could have been a bit earlier but he's here now. He's played reserve grade football at Cronulla so he's played at a higher level in comparison to what we're playing.

"He's come with very good recommendations and we're expecting him to be a very competent player."

Papua New Guinea star Okul, 28, a regular try-scorer since moving to Britain alongside Super League star Stanley Gene in the mid-1990s, has not been playing professionally this term but starred for amateur giants West Hull last term. He has signed for this season.

It is thought he too does not count as an overseas player as he has been based in England for some time. Ferres said: "He's very powerful and we're hoping he will give us impact off the bench."

Both players are available for Sunday's home game against Workington Town (ko 3pm), a match which could boost the Knights quest for a National League Two play-off place.

The Arriva Trains Conference kicks off this Saturday, with a preview of Heworth and Acorn's seasons in tomorrow's Evening Press with weekly match previews being published each Thursday thereon.

Updated: 10:58 Wednesday, August 20, 2003