HEAD coach Mick Cook reckons his three new signings could be key players in York City Knights' bid to bounce straight back up to National League One.

The Knights have agreed terms with speedy Hunslet full-back George Raynor, forceful Halifax front-rower Ryan McDonald and Gateshead's Fijian international prop, Tabua Cakacaka.

Additionally, forwards Adam Sullivan and James Ward will stay at Huntington Stadium after they, too, agreed new deals with the club, taking the number of players signed on for 2007 to 18.

Full-back Raynor has been linked with the Knights for some time, though the confirmation of his recruitment was held back for last night's end-ofseason presentation evening, where all the latest signings were announced.

Known for his blistering pace, he played under Cook in the Leeds Rhinos academy system, and will be a natural replacement for Matt Blaymire, the Knights' regular number one who has joined Wakefield, or even Peter Fox, York's on-loan Leeds Rhinos winger who has also now signed for the Wildcats.

Cook said: "I worked with George at Leeds when he was a young bloke. He's got a pretty good attitude and he's been a stand-out player for Hunslet. He's very quick and he will be a good asset for us.

"We've lost (full-back) Matt Blaymire to Wakefield but we've got young Lee Mapals, Lee Lingard and now George Raynor, three quality full-backs/wingers.

It's a real positive for us."

Cook hopes McDonald and Cakacaka will add size and aggression to the Knights' front row.

West Cumbrian-born McDonald, 28, rejoined Halifax in 2005 after a brief spell with Whitehaven. He had previously joined Fax in 2004 after three years with Widnes, with whom he played in Super League. A Scotland international, he has also played for Dewsbury and Bramley.

Cook said: "Ryan is another player I coached at Leeds when he came through the Leeds youth system.

"He's a very strong carrier of the ball.

He doesn't hold back and just goes for it. He wants to break the line every time he carries the ball."

Cakacaka, who played for Fiji in the 2000 World Cup and in the 2003 World Sevens in Sydney, began his career in Australia, where he played in the Premier League (second-grade rugby) for Canberra Raiders, South Sydney and Newtown Jets, the former club of the Knights' Aussie forward, Dave Buckley.

He also played in France with Pia before moving to the North East of England.

Cook said: "I've admired him for a while. He's a big, strong Fijian international who certainly caused us problems when we played Gateshead. He will give us a bit more size in the pack."

The Press revealed earlier this week that "positive negotiations" were ongoing with Sullivan and Ward, and deals have now been agreed.

Cook added: "I'm pleased they're staying. Sully's been probably our most consistent prop since he came here and is very durable.

"James Ward has improved this year and works hard at his game, and I think he will kick on again."