CONNOR ROBINSON has hailed half-back partner Ben Cockayne – as well as the York City Knights fans - as a huge factor behind his award-winning exploits this term.

Robinson, 23, was this week voted the Knights supporters’ club’s Player of the Year and he is also one of four nominees for the League One Player of the Season gong – along with Cockayne.

Furthermore, he could well break the all-time York RL goals and points in a season records held by Super League star Danny Brough.

But he has put much of that down to Cockayne and his fellow team-mates, who head into their penultimate game of term at Hemel Stags tomorrow knowing they need to win their last two matches to secure the crown and automatic promotion.

He also says he would forfeit any personal accolades for the club to go up.

“He’s made me a better player this year, playing and training with him,” said Robinson of former Hull KR favourite Cockayne, who joined York last winter.

“For a start I’ve lost 6kg and it’s the shape too. He’s got experience of what’s needed. He’s played 250 Super League games. He’s stood behind me pushing me on to do this and that, and in games he’s looked after me.

“I’m still only 23 so I can get a bit erratic but he grabs you by the scruff of the neck and tells you to rein it in.”

Robinson and Cockayne are up for the league’s Player of the Year award alongside Workington hooker Sean Penkywicz and Bradford playmaker Dane Chisholm.

Said Robinson of the nominations: “Me and Benny were both shocked.

"We thought the likes of Joe Batchelor and Tim Spears, with the work he gets through, would be in there. But we’re over the moon.

“I think all four (of the nominations) could have come from York but they’re not going to allow that are they.”

He added: “It’s really nice, especially when it comes from other teams’ coaches.

“They must think something of you or that you’re a half-decent player."

On topping the fans’ poll, Robinson – who first joined York in June 2017 - said: “I wasn’t aware of it until I read it in The Press. It’s nice to get that recognition. You get plaudits here and there but when they back you like that it’s great.

“They’ve been brilliant since I arrived. They welcomed me with open arms and it was good in the off-season chatting to them at a fans’ forum about what I could bring to the team. They’ve backed me all the way.

“I’ve had a few bad games but they’ve never got on my back and have been with us every step of the way – even more so these last few weeks when there’s 1,600 people screaming you on.”

He added of that support, which was palpable in recent battling wins over Workington and Oldham: “It gives you that extra 10 per cent.

“When there’s 10 minutes to go and you think you’ve got nothing left – you then hear that noise and you think, ‘It’s not just for us, this’.”

The York goals and points records were set by fellow left-footed half-back Brough in 2004.

He kicked 178 goals (including four drop-goals) and notched 412 points that season, having played in all 36 of the Knights’ matches.

Robinson has so far scored 170 goals (including four drop-goals) and 384 points, in far fewer matches – having played in 26 of the Knights’ 27 so far.

In the home match against Hemel, he scored 13 goals and a try, and a similar return tomorrow would see him break both marks.

He said: “It would be nice to break records and have a bit of history, but I’d happily give all that up to finish top and be champions.

“People say you’re just talking it up but me and Benny have both said we'd happily miss out on awards to win the league.

“Awards are great but when you get promoted you’ve written a piece of history and people don’t forget that.”

On tomorrow’s trip, Robinson added: “Hemel will be difficult for various reasons. It’s maybe hard to get up mentally for these games (against strugglers) especially after two sloggers.

“But we’ve not been complacent at all this year. We’ve been ruthless. That’s maybe not nice sometimes but you can’t take your foot off the gas if you want to win leagues.

“It could then go down to the last game against Whitehaven. It’s a winnable game but they’re a good side and they need the points to be in the play-offs. It will be another tough game so we’ll need to turn up and play really well.”