RICHIE Myler has been handed the number six shirt for his debut season with York Knights.

The move indicates that head coach Andrew Henderson will see the former Leeds Rhinos star predominantly at half-back alongside newly-appointed captain Liam Harris, who continues in the number seven shirt.

A position in which the Knights notably fielded as many as nine combinations last term, they will be competing for half-back spots with Ata Hingano and new recruit Nikau Williams, who will wear numbers 14 and 22 respectively.

Will Dagger is poised to be the club’s starting full-back, having inherited the number one shirt previously held by fan favourite Matty Marsh after his departure to Betfred Championship rivals Sheffield Eagles.

Jimmy Keinhorst will take up the number four shirt as he prepares to make his first Knights appearance since 2020, with last year’s occupant Jesse Dee now wearing shirt number three.

York Press: 2023 top-scorer AJ Towse has retained his number five shirt ahead of the 2024 campaign.2023 top-scorer AJ Towse has retained his number five shirt ahead of the 2024 campaign. (Image: Craig Hawkhead)

Wingers Joe Brown and AJ Towse keep shirt numbers two and five, with utility backs Myles Harrison and Alex Donaghy taking shirts 23 and 26 respectively.

Prop Ukuma Ta’ai will wear the number eight shirt vacated by Jon Luke Kirby, whilst Conor Fitzsimmons continues to wear number 10. Fellow props Jack Teanby, Brenden Santi and Ronan Michael take shirts 15, 16 and 17.

Following the retirements of Chris Clarkson and Danny Kirmond during the off-season, shirts 11 and 12 see fresh faces in young pair Oli Field and Connor Bailey, the former moving up the squad list from the 32 shirt after a standout debut season last term.

The ever-dependable Will Jubb retains shirt nine as he heads into his eighth season at the Knights, with fellow hookers Josh Daley, Taylor Pemberton and James Cunningham taking up shirt numbers 19, 20 and 21.

Levi Edwards and Bailey Antrobus, who have been sidelined with ACL injuries since mid-March and July respectively, are not expected back until mid-season, reflecting in their shirts 24 and 25.

Young recruits Jack Potter, Harvey Reynolds and Francis Coggle will wear shirts 29, 30 and 31 respectively.

“A lot of it has been based on what I’ve seen at training,” Henderson told The Press of the process behind choosing this year’s squad numbers.

“We’ve had a number of players that have not been available for training – you look at players like Bailey Antrobus, he’s at 25 because he’s not going to be coming back until mid-season.

“It’s probably a reflection of where, as coaches, we see players fitting into the squad, but there’s an element of reward for what we’ve seen at training as well.”

York Knights 2024 Squad Numbers:

  1. Will Dagger
  2. Joe Brown
  3. Jesse Dee
  4. Jimmy Keinhorst
  5. AJ Towse
  6. Richie Myler
  7. Liam Harris ©
  8. Ukuma Ta’ai
  9. Will Jubb
  10. Conor Fitzsimmons
  11. Oli Field
  12. Connor Bailey
  13. Jordan Thompson
  14. Nikau Williams
  15. Jack Teanby
  16. Brenden Santi
  17. Ronan Michael
  18. In Memory of our Fans
  19. Josh Daley
  20. Taylor Pemberton
  21. James Cunningham
  22. Ata Hingano
  23. Myles Harrison
  24. Levi Edwards
  25. Bailey Antrobus
  26. Alex Donaghy
  27. Harry Price
  28. Brad Ward
  29. Jack Potter
  30. Harvey Reynolds
  31. Francis Coggle