OLI Pratt has committed his future to Wakefield Trinity until 2026, despite interest from York Knights for his signature.

The former Heworth youngster spent the latter half of the 2023 season on loan at the Knights, scoring six tries in 11 appearances for his hometown club.

Despite a rough patch that saw him left out of Andrew Henderson's side throughout July, he returned to play his best rugby in the season run-in, the Knights winning 10 of their final 11 matches to secure the unlikeliest of places in the Betfred Championship Play-offs.

Primarily plying his trade at right centre, Pratt showed his versatility with a comfortable performance on the wing in the Knights' outstanding 20-10 victory at Bradford Bulls in September.

However, owing to a recall by his parent club, York were unable to call upon Pratt's services for their Play-off Eliminator at Odsal, the teenager instead making his Betfred Super League debut as Trinity were thrashed 56-12 at home to Play-off contenders Hull KR.

Wakefield Trinity loanee Oli Pratt back to his best at York Knights

It's been all change at Belle Vue following Trinity's relegation at the end of last season, welcoming new owner Matt Ellis and appointing vastly experienced former Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves head coach Daryl Powell at the helm.

Wakefield revealed that there had been interest from the Knights in securing Pratt's services, but that he had instead committed his future in West Yorkshire in their bid for an immediate Super League return.

"I'm really excited," Pratt told the club. "I think that the club's on the up and that it's going in the right direction.

"The three-year deal is a really good one for me personally to develop. I think that three years will really fulfil my potential here.

"I'm really excited to work with the new coaching staff as well in Daryl Powell and [assistant coach] Michael Shenton. Michael Shenton was a really good centre a few years ago and I think that I can really do well under him.

"After speaking with Daryl and Matt, the ambition for the club to get back into the Super League and have a really good season next year, I think that it's looking really good. 

"I think that if we have a really good start to the season and keep up with what we said we were going to do, speaking to those two, I think that it'll be a really good year."

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Head coach Powell said that he cannot wait to work with Pratt, whom he believes has "all the athletic capabilities to be an outstanding centre in Super League".

"I watched a Wakefield Academy game last season, and not knowing Oliver, picked him as the best player on the field straight away," he continued.

"He's got all the athletic capabilities to be an outstanding centre in the Super League in the future and I am delighted that he has extended his contract to stay with us.

"I can't wait to work with him over the next three years to see exactly how far he can go."