YORK Knights boss Andrew Henderson feels as though Sunday’s win against Bradford Bulls lifted a weight off his shoulders.

The Knights were the only team without a point heading into the fifth round of the Betfred Championship season as injuries and suspensions ravaged their squad, but were more than good value as they ran out 25-14 victors.

Kieran Gill’s seventh minute opener threatened to set the tone for the fancied Bulls - backed in numbers at the LNER Community Stadium - but Jimmy Keinhorst, Jordan Thompson and Myles Harrison ensured the Knights had the game turned on its head by the interval.

A quick-fire double from captain Liam Harris, including a sensational length of the field effort, extended the hosts’ lead, before he slotted over a drop-goal, rendering late tries from Elliot Peposhi and Huddersfield Giants loanee Aiden McGowan mere consolations.

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Despite the result leaving the Knights still bottom of the pile, they now have a platform to build upon ahead of what Henderson believes are winnable fixtures against Batley Bulldogs and Whitehaven over the next fortnight.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders,” he admitted. 

“We coach and we play to win games so it’s not been the ideal start in this Championship season. I’m really pleased that the team were able to get a result at the weekend.

“We set some good markers down there on Sunday, the way we defended for one another and went through our process with our style of play.

“I thought that we were very disciplined and very patient as well, we didn’t rush the play and we didn’t try and force things, we just rolled up our sleeves and invested a lot of energy defensively to combat a very good Bradford side.

“They’re a very big back five, a very big middle and let’s be honest, they were the in-form team of the competition playing some wonderful rugby league football. That was always going to be a tough challenge for us on Sunday.

“But I am so pleased and proud of the players for the manner that they competed and the way that they were disciplined, patient and they executed the plan we had in place. 

“They invested heavily defensively together, so it was a great performance to be a part of on Sunday.”

York Press: Fans were jubilant as the Knights got off the mark in style.Fans were jubilant as the Knights got off the mark in style. (Image: Craig Hawkhead)

Consistency however continues to be a problem for the Knights.

Whilst Sunday’s performance showed a level not seen since last season’s remarkable run to the play-offs, an unsettled squad again took to the field.

Harris and Taylor Pemberton lined up in York’s seventh half-back partnership in 2024, Hull FC loanee Charlie Severs joined Keinhorst in the centres before being forced off through a HIA, and Harrison returned to full-back in a move fans have been crying out for over recent weeks.

“We learned some really good lessons from Sunday,” Henderson reflected. “The challenge now is to back that up and do the same again. 

“That’s the challenge for any team, to get that consistency in our performance and what doesn’t help is when you have to reshuffle the decks and move certain people out of position every week because we’re getting bodies going down. 

“That’s a testament to the group of players that we do have, they’ve been asked to play in various positions already.

“I look at Connor Bailey for example - I signed him as a ball-playing loose forward and he’s played in the middle, he’s played edge back row and he’s played centre already in five rounds. 

“He’s not complaining about it and he cracks on with it, as the other players have done too. 

“It was great to find a way on Sunday to find a result, but to also deliver a really good team performance, which is what we’re aiming for again this Sunday.”