YORK Knights utility James Cunningham could be set for another spell on the sidelines after pulling up with a rib injury at Toulouse on Saturday.

The 30-year-old, who penned a two-year deal with the Knights ahead of the 2023 season, has seen his time in North Yorkshire blighted by injury.

He made 16 appearances for the club last season, though missed the majority of their incredible run to the play-offs after suffering a concussion at former club London Broncos in July, taking him over the set limit of head injuries sustained over a certain time period.

Cunningham returned raring to go as York kicked off the season at dual registration partners Newcastle Thunder at the end of January, but an initially misdiagnosed slipped disc saw him sidelined until their 54-12 triumph against Barrow at the start of July.

Turning out at loose forward, half-back and hooker under Mark Applegarth upon his return, the Hull-born utility pulled up during the latter stages of Saturday’s 20-12 triumph across the channel in what appeared to be a considerable amount of pain.

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Speaking to BBC Radio York, Applegarth explained: “I think he’s popped a rib,” but joked “maybe it might shut him up a bit!

“But he’s a tough cookie is Cunno. We’ll assess that and see where he is.” 

Despite falling behind to Anthony Marion’s converted try after seven minutes, the Knights soon had the game turned on its head as they ran out victors at the Stade Ernest-Wallon for the first time since 2011.

Joe Brown flew into the right corner to level the scores midway through the first half before Nikau Williams combined with half-back partner Ata Hingano to score beneath the posts, before the returning Will Dagger converted a penalty to hand them a 14-6 half-time lead.

And though Toulouse saw efforts ruled out for grounding either side of Dagger’s length-of-the-field effort just after the hour, Paul Ulberg’s late try proved to be nothing more than a mere consolation, as despite both Hingano and Jordan Thompson spending time in the sin-bin, the hosts struggled against the Knights’ defence.

Dagger scored a length-of-the-field effort on his return from a hamstring injury.Dagger scored a length-of-the-field effort on his return from a hamstring injury. (Image: Lewis Sharp)

Whilst potentially losing Cunningham, York were able to welcome back Dagger for the first time in a month after a hamstring strain.

Both Williams and Brown have filled in at full-back during his notable absence, but Applegarth admits the former Wakefield Trinity star is a “massive weapon” for his team.

“I know what Dags is capable of,” the head coach continued. “I’ve seen him win a couple of games under me so I know exactly what he’s capable of.

“The longer that we can keep Dags on the field and keep gelling with his teammates, the better he’s going to get. In my opinion, he’s still a Super League quality player.

“We’ve just got to keep looking after him because he is a bit fragile in certain areas, but if we can keep him on that field, he’s a massive weapon for us.”