YORK City Knights will come face to face with a man recently regarded as the person NRL players would least want to fight against when Wakefield Wildcats visit Huntington Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 7.30pm).

Kiwi loose-forward Monty Betham, who can also operate as a prop, will make his debut for the Super League club in the pre-season friendly against the Knights having signed from NRL club New Zealand Warriors.

The match will be his first club game in England but the Wildcats new-boy, who is the son of top-notch Kiwi boxer Monty Betham senior, played down his hard-man image ahead of the clash.

He said: "I was voted by my NRL peers a couple of years ago as the man they would least want to pick a fight.

"I don't go out looking for fights but, sometimes, they can arise in the heat of battle. But I just want to play my best and enjoy my first game for Wakefield at York."

Betham, 27, is a New Zealand international who has also played for Samoa.

He has signed a two-year deal with Wakefield having played 101 games for NZ Warriors since his debut in 1999, missing two seasons through injury and also being sidelined by suspensions on a number of occasions.

But he has no intention of encountering any disciplinary problems at York and is hoping to pay another visit to the city later in the year.

He said: "I've been to England before as I toured with the Kiwis. We never went to York but I went to places like Hull and Leeds and it was pretty cold.

"I've heard York is a beautiful place but, tomorrow, I will be there for business rather than pleasure.

"I intend to come back and visit later in the season though to see more of the city."

Betham is, however, not expecting an easy ride on his introduction to English club rugby.

"York are not a Super League side but, in my experience, I'm sure that means they will be keen to stand up to us and test themselves," he said.

"It's my first game for Wakefield so I'm definitely looking forward to it."

Betham was one of four new signings unveiled by Wakefield yesterday. He was joined at a photocall by former Sydney Rooster Ned Catic, utility player Paul White, who has been recruited from Huddersfield Giants and centre Jon Whittle, who has joined from Widnes Vikings.

Updated: 10:00 Thursday, January 19, 2006