YORK City Knights are sweating on the fitness of half-back Connor Robinson.

The 24-year-old is due for an assessment today on the leg injury that forced him off the pitch against Dewsbury Rams with half an hour remaining.

With fellow half-back Ben Cockayne retiring from playing, this could leave the Knights with a hole to fill.

Robinson has been key for York this season, so far scoring five tries and 80 goals, including a nerveless post-hooter penalty in last week's 1895 Cup defeat to Batley Bulldogs.

Knights head coach James Ford said: "We're hoping it's not too serious but we'll see how he goes."

Meanwhile, Cockayne's decision to call time on his illustrious career comes after 15 seasons and more than 350 games.

With a projected nine months of rehabilitation for knee reconstruction surgery, the 35-year-old has decided now is the time to hang up his boots.

On leaving the army at 21, Cockayne began playing at Normanton before establishing himself at Doncaster Dragons. He went on to become a cult hero at Hull KR following a 2006 move to Craven Park, helping the Robins to two promotions to Super League.

During a 56-game stint at Wakefield Trinity between 2012 and 2013 - Cockayne's self-proclaimed best playing period of his career - he represented England Knights in a World Cup warm-up game in Samoa.

Cockayne spent the last 18 months of his career at Bootham Crescent, helping York City Knights to an against-the-odds League One title and promotion to the Betfred Championship.

"Being involved with York City Knights has been a very rewarding and fulfilling part of my career," Cockayne said.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my role on the field, none more so than promotion as champions in 2018 against all the odds.

"My move into the half-back position gave me a new lease of life and brought a whole new level of enjoyment to my participation in the sport.

"I had a personal goal to go on and reach 400 appearances. Obviously that’s not going to come to fruition but I’m extremely satisfied and proud of the 350-plus appearances I have made in the professional game.

"I’ll be forever grateful to my old pal Billy Conway. If it wasn’t for Billy’s persistence and desire to keep putting my name forward I may not have had the career I have.

"Big thanks to Fordy, who I have no doubt will go on to become one of the top English coaches in the coming years, and to all the boys at York who have made my time at the club very special.

"I have no doubt the club has potential to some day reach the super league under the watch of Jon (Flatman) and Fordy.

"Thanks to the fans at each club who have cheered me on when I’ve been giving my all and cursed me when I’ve had a stinker.

"I’m grateful for you all equally, many who haven’t just been supporters but have become great friends who I will remain connected with for life."

"He's been absolutely massive for this club," Ford said following the Dewsbury game.

"He plays every game like it was his last, he's got loads of tenacity, loads of desire.

"I remember that game at Odsal where he was absolutely unplayable.

"Dane Chisholm will still probably wake up in the middle of the night wondering where Ben Cockayne is after that performance.

"He's been even better off the field for the players, his leadership, what he's added to the culture. He's impacted on me as a coach as well.

"Benny Cockayne at 18,19, 20 years of age, people often think of that, and that's who he is.

"His journey mentally has been immense and, the person he's matured into, he'd be such a valuable bloke for any organisation.

"Whatever he turns his hand to, whether it's coaching, whether it's managing people, he'll be absolutely first-class.

"He'll be a massive loss to this team, a massive loss to this club and, ultimately, he'll be a massive loss to me as a coach as well."