“I thought they were a team going in the right direction and with the type of ethos and mentality that I liked.”
This is what attracted Danny Washbrook, a Super League veteran of over 400 Super League appearances, to the Knights ahead of the 2020 campaign and ultimately sign a new deal extending his stay through to the end of the 2021 campaign.
While this season came to an untimely and unpredicted end, 34-year-old Washbrook admitted that he was suitably impressed with the club during his short time with us. “Re-signing was an easy decision. I enjoyed the first four months with the club and they’ve been great with us during the last four months,” he explained.
As the world of rugby league continues it’s comeback at Super League level, giving a level of excitement back to fans of the sport, there is something more pressing for Knights players, staff and fans which is keeping people going: the new stadium.
This week we brought you a range of pictures as the move to the LNER Community Stadium approaches and, like everyone else, Washbrook has been suitably impressed with what he has seen. “The pictures look outstanding,” he told the club website, continuing that “the facilities at the York St. John Sports Park are spot on, as players we couldn’t ask for anything better.”
With the club’s future never having looked so promising, Washbrook believes that the Knights are well set for a big future. Agreeing with the comments of Chris Clarkson that the off-field setup is looking rosy, the two-time Challenge Cup winner admits that the aim for the club must be promotion. “The aim is Super League,” he outlined. “That is the end goal for any ambitious club in the Championship.” Of benefit to the Knights in that regard is the number of players in the ranks who have played at the top level and, as a member of a vastly experienced pack, Washbrook is without doubt one of the leaders among the team.
“It’s good to share my experience with the team,” he expressed. “Others and I have played a lot of games at different levels so it’s always good to have input from different people.
The 2020 campaign was like none other in recent memory and, given the curtailed nature of it, Washbrook admits he can’t wait to get back training with the team. “It feels like an age since I touched a ball or made a tackle” he explained, adding “we just need to get back into it as a team, however that team will look and build for 2021.”
The enforced absence did, however, give Washbrook the chance to get on his bike for a good cause. In April, the former Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity man took to his wheels, riding 380 miles to raise money for NHS Charities Together and Dove House Hospice who, at the time, Washbrook described as “two amazing places that need as much extra funding as possible during this time.”
His ride raised in excess of £2000 and Washbrook revealed he needed it, explaining that “the bike ride was fun, it gave me some focus each day throughout lockdown,” especially given rugby league and his work in recruitment with Novum Personnel was on hold. “I’ve also done a lot of rugby-based fitness,” he added when asked about what else has filled his time. “We’ve been doing lots of family activities and we managed to get away down south for a week.”
Like the retentions of Will Jubb, Chris Clarkson and Matty Marsh, Washbrook’s signing wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of the Knights fanbase through these challenging times. The support of the 2020 Patrons and Squadbuilder fund continue to be huge for the club and Washbrook, like all at the club, is grateful. “The support shown by the fans from day one has been awesome and that accelerated during lockdown with donations and other shows of support,” he explained. “It’s massively appreciated.”
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