We asked you to vote for your top team of players to represent the Knights and you duly obliged with over 200 people having had their say…
Full Back – Matty Marsh (59%)
Lining up in the number 1 shirt is Matty Marsh. The 25-year-old featured for the Knights in our 2018 title-winning Betfred League One campaign before signing permanently ahead of last season, a season in which he finished as the Knights’ top try scorer with sixteen four-pointers.
Winger – Peter Fox (80%)
The first winger – with a massive number of votes – is York-born England international Peter Fox who was, without doubt, one of the stars of the 2005 LHF Healthplan National League two league-winning team. On loan from Leeds Rhinos, Fox scored a club-record twenty-five tries and went onto make over 200 Super League appearances for Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR while also scoring seven tries in six England appearances.
Centre – Greg Minikin (63%)
A graduate of the Knights scholarship system, Greg Minikin impressed so much in Knights colours that Castleford Tigers swooped to sign the Knaresborough-born centre ahead of the 2016 season. His sterling showings in 2015 saw him named the Knights’ players’ player and The Press’ joint player of the year.
Centre – Liam Salter (38%)
Since joining the club ahead of the 2019 season, centre Liam Salter has become a firm favourite through his never-say-die, hard-hitting approach both in the three-quarter line and in the back row. Prior to signing for the Knights, Salter had made 121 Super League appearances and, last year, was a near-ever-present in the amber and black.
Winger – Tom Lineham (47%)
Tom Lineham burst onto the scene in 2010 with a number of eye-catching performances as the Knights raced to play-off glory. He went on to sign for Hull FC and returned on dual-registration before establishing himself as a first-choice winger at Warrington Wolves and going on to represent England Knights.
Half-Back – Danny Brough (74%)
Since departing the Knights, Danny Brough has gone onto become one of the best half-backs Super League has seen with over 300 top-flight appearances to his name. During his two seasons with the Knights – the last of which saw the team fell agonisingly short of promotion in 2004 – he scored in excess of 600 points before earning a move to Hull FC alongside departing head coach Richard Agar.
Half-Back – Connor Robinson (45%)
Signing midway through 2017, Connor Robinson scored points in every one of his first 50 appearances for the Knights and broke Danny Brough’s point-scoring records in 2018 after amassing an incredible 186 goals and 420 points in a season – which he set in just 28 appearances compared to Brough’s 36 outings in 2004. He averaged a remarkable 6.64 goals and 15 points per game, and was influential in the Knights rise to third in the Championship in 2019.
Prop- Graeme Horne (61%)
Graeme Horne is the first prop named with a healthy percentage of the vote. After first appearing on loan from Hull KR in 2017, the vastly experienced ball-playing forward produced a number of match-winning performances throughout 2018 and 19 as the Knights lifted the Betfred League One title and reached the Championship play-offs respectively before moving on at the culmination of the season.
Hooker- Lee Jackson (59%)
Former Great Britain international Lee Jackson was the club’s flagship signing ahead of their inaugural 2003 season and stayed to help the team win promotion in 2005. Making 74 appearances for the Knights, the former Super League and NRL hooker provided huge experience and leadership to the team during his time in the Minster city.
Prop- Richie Hayes (51%)
The Knights first-ever captain, York rugby league legend completes the front row alongside Horne and Jackson – a front-row with huge experience. One of a handful of players to play for both the Wasps and Knights, Richie Hayes is one of only twelve men to be in the York Rugby League Hall of Fame.
Second-Row- Joe Batchelor (62%)
He arrived at the club as an unknown quantity from Coventry Bears and left after two superb seasons for a three-year deal with Super League champions St Helens after the promotion-winning 2018 season. Last year saw Joe Batchelor return to the club on loan, scoring three tries in his six appearances to add to his previous record of thirty-eight tries in forty-eight games.
Second-Row- Sam Scott (49%)
Currently in his second spell with the club, experienced back-rower Sam Scott passed a half-century of appearances for the club in 2019 and edges out Ryan Esders for a place in this team.
Loose-Forward- Tim Spears (58%)
Captain fantastic Tim Spears completes the line up and has been the leader of the team through the new era of the club, leading the team to 2018 Betfred League One success and then an outstanding showing upon returning to the Championship in 2019. In the Knights’ last match against Rochdale Hornets in the Coral Challenge Cup, Spears made his 400th career appearance – not something to be sniffed at.
Head-Coach- James Ford (68%)
Our current head coach faced stiff competition from fellow promotion winning coach Mick Cook and Dave Woods as well as current Leeds Rhinos head coach Rich Agar but James Ford has got your vote for the leader of this all-time Knights team. Since taking up the reins ahead of the 2015 season, Ford showed incredible loyalty and leadership through some very challenging times for the club and now leads a team he guided to a third placed finish in the Betfred Championship last season.
Ford became the Knights first full-time head coach in 2018 before being crowned Betfred League 1 Coach of the Year in 2018, a feat he went onto beat by being named Betfred Championship Coach of the Year in 2019, as his own personal meteoric rise was reflected in the Knights performances.
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