York City Knights season review: player stats and ratings

Mark Applegarth

Appearances: 29

Tries: 1

Rating: 8/10

The club's only ever-present, the 30-year-old, on his return to the Knights, underlined his his durability, not only by playing all 29 games but by playing long minutes in many of them too. He did a valuable job as James Ford's assistant-coach, too, during such a difficult season off the field.

Pat Smith

Appearances: 28

Tries: 12

Rating: 7.5/10

The club captain missed only one match - and he was peeved to be left out then too. Has shown his worth at half-back and hooker.

Jack Aldous

Appearances: 28

Tries: 3

Rating: 9/10

Reigning Press Player of the Year, the 24-year-old prop again proved his "Mr Duracell" nickname, starting all but one match and regularly playing big minutes in the engine room, with handling errors or missed tackles always rare.

Ed Smith

Appearances: 28

Tries: 14

Rating: 9/10

A club stalwart and still only 22, the home-grown second-row has enjoyed his best season yet, twice voted The Press Player of the Month. Formed a formidable partnership with Greg Minikin on the right edge and did much of the tough stuff too. There can't be many if any better back-rowers in the competition. The Press Player of the Year award was between him and Minikin - to be unveiled at the Knights end-of-season awards ceremony next Friday.

Greg Minikin

Appearances: 27

Tries:

Rating: 9/10

Coach James Ford might have been joking when he termed an attacking tactic "Just Pass The Ball To Greg", but then again he might not. The home-grown starlet was regularly a strike weapon in the centres, despite his tender years, and the Championships Awards Dinner was shocked into silence when he didn't lift the League One Young Player of the Year accolade. The 20-year-old has, however, won a move to Super League with Castleford (as yet unconfirmed), which is richly deserved and no real surprise after his rapid progress. The Press Player of the Month in May, he has also been a long-time leader in the Press Player of the Year standings.

Jonny Presley

Appearances: 27

Tries: 8

Rating: 8.5/10

Rated by coach James Ford as one of the best half-backs in League One, if not the best, not only for how he plays but also how he conducts himself - no ranting and raving and annoying people like some half-backs, but quiet words of advice and encouragement. Also took the line on more this year, as fans have been crying out for. Press Player of the Month in August.

Josh Tonks

Appearances: 25+2

Tries: 10

Rating: 8.5/10

The hard-running second-rower, who slams into hit-ups and regularly runs great lines, has been excellent all year, his consistent form seeing Ryan Mallinder shifted from the back row berth he occupied to high regard last season.

Nev Morrison

Appearances: 23

Tries: 12

Rating: 7/10

Was missed in the play-off semi-final after breaking a metacarpal late in the season. Had a few dodgy moments when troubled by kicks but always bounced back. Scored a hat-trick on his debut at Skolars but would have hoped for, and probably deserved, a better return than a try every two games.

Ben Dent

Appearances: 23

Tries: 12

Goals: 69

Rating: 7.5/10

Last year's top scorer did not hit the whitewash as much this term but played more at full-back than on the wing due to James Haynes' injuries. Often joined the line well and a key figure during the team's free-flowing, high-scoring period in mid-season. Occasionally inconsistent - as was his goalkicking in Haynes' stead, as cruelly highlighted in the play-off semi-final.

Brad Nicholson

Appearances: 7+16

Tries: 8

Rating: 8.5/10

Probably the find of the season. Younger brother of former fan favourite Matty, the hard-running 20-year-old has displayed similar line-breaking characteristics and, at his age, can only get better and better.

Liam Cunningham

Appearances: 16+5

Tries: 11

Rating: 6/10

Started the season on fire, bagging seven tries in his first eight appearances, but for some reason the tall rangy centre/back-rower tailed off in the second half of the campaign and became a shadow of his earlier self, both in attack and defence, with only one try six mid-June.

Ryan Mallinder

Appearances: 12+9

Tries: 5

Rating: 6.5/10

With Ed Smith and Josh Tonks holding down the second-row spots, Mallinder, a consistent back-rower last year, was used in the middle unit this term. As usual, hard-working, solid and tough in contact - much of the engine room work that gets unnoticed.

Kriss Brining

Appearances: 10+9

Tries: 23

Rating: 9/10

Probably better as an impact hooker off the bench but has also done well when starting games. Match management is improving and he knows he has to work on his passing but his big tackles and mighty hand-offs make him such a dangerous player. He has also made scoring tries from dummy-half an art form - teams know he's going to try at some point yet still fail to stop him. Missed seven games with injury in mid-season and, as a hooker, doesn't play full matches yet finished with 23 tries from 19 appearances, including no fewer than four hat-tricks. His strike rate of tries per minute must be the best in League One if not all of domestic rugby league.

Harry Carter

Appearances: 8+10

Tries: 7

Rating: 6.5/10

Highly-rated by coach James Ford after his rise through the youth ranks, he hasn't quite hit the ground running in his breakthrough season in League One. Glimpses of quality here and there but might not have been helped by pressure of donning the number nine shirt last worn by the then League One Player of the Year Jack Lee. Quick, wary and skilful, he now just needs to get bigger and stronger in the off-season to make a bigger impression next year.

Jordan Howden

Appearances: 17

Tries: 8

Goals: 12

Rating: 8/10

Teenager fitted in excellently after arriving on dual-reg from Castleford, both at half-back and full-back.

Colton Roche

Appearances: 3+11

Tries: 1

Rating: 7.5/10

Injuries meant fans didn't see enough of this hard-hitting, hard-running packman but he still made such an impression that Featherstone offered a wage he couldn't turn down for 2016. Always a positive when in the action.

Tyler Craig

Appearances: 12+1

Tries: 7

Rating: 6.5/10

Former Heworth junior was involved more this year than ever before. Fit, fast and with talent, but perhaps a confidence player and there are times when he needs to take it upon himself to make a bigger impression on games.

Jack Blagbrough

Appearances: 2+10

Tries: 2

Rating: 6.5/10

Big prop brought something different on his arrival on loan from Sheffield and was duly used regularly off the bench.

Jack Pickles

Appearances: 3+8

Tries: 1

Rating: 6/10

Some solid performances meant he was regularly involved in the first half of term but he never quite became a first-choice and, after others' form kept him on the sidelines, he left in July, with everyone's blessing, to seek regular game-time.

James Haynes

Appearances: 10

Tries: 4

Goals: 43

Rating: 7.5/10

Just when it seem he had shaken off his injury nightmare, the Knights' luckless skipper was struck again. Having battled back from a career-threatening back injury, the full-back was getting back to his ultra-reliable, punchy best when back problems resurfaced. He came back again but four appearances later suffered knee ligament damage that could sideline him for another year. The team could have done with him in the play-offs, too, not only for what he offers at the back but also for his goalkicking.

Micky Learmonth

Appearances: 4+6

Tries:

Goals:

Rating: 6.5/10

Made some good impacts and hard hits after arriving on loan from Huddersfield in April but occasionally let down by rashness. Still only 20 and is pretty handy in the boxing ring so could yet become a proper enforcer by getting better with age and consistency. Big question is: does he qualify for the notorious naked run having not scored a try?

James Clare

Appearances: 7

Tries: 9

Rating: 8/10

Made a good impression on and off the field while on dual-reg from Castleford. It was a blow when Bradford signed him as it meant the winger would not be involved at the business end of the season.

Michael Channing

Appearances: 7

Tries: 1

Rating: 6.5/10

Provided a good option at centre while on dual-reg from Castleford, occasionally showing his Super League pedigree despite dearth of tries, but was recalled by parent club long before the all-important play-offs. Released by Cas at the end of term.

Adam Dent

Appearances: 7

Tries: 5

Goals: 2

Rating: 6.5/10

Thrown in at the deep end for the play-offs due to injuries but notable that he was picked ahead of Jamel Chisholm. If he gets a bit bigger and stronger, more will surely come from yet another home-grown player as he reads the game well, has some pace, good hands and an eye for the try-line.

Pete Aspinall

Appearances: 3+3

Tries: 4

Rating: 6/10

He had things to learn but also had tools to be a notable player. However, other commitments forced him to leave early in the season.

Casey Canterbury

Appearances: 1+4

Tries: 1

Rating: 5/10

Okay but unspectacular.

James Morland

Appearances: 4

Tries: 2

Rating: 6/10

The young six-footer showed in glimpses that he has the tools to be an excellent rugby league centre following his return to the club from rugby union.

Lee Waterman

Appearances: 2+2

Tries: 2

Goals: 1

Rating: 5/10

Former favourite rejoined York to a bit of a fanfare but for some reason wasn't a good fit with James Ford's professional regime and quickly went back to Doncaster.

Brad Hey

Appearances: 0+4

Tries: 1

Rating: 6/10

Did little wrong and was probably unlucky to be used so sparingly after arriving on loan from Batley in July.

Liam Richmond

Appearances: 0+4

Rating 6/10

Teenager did nothing wrong in his occasional outings. One of the up-and-coming players to have suffered due to the reserves folding due to homelessness amid the community stadium saga. Hopefully will come on next year for his involvement in the camp.

Jamel Chisholm

Appearances: 3

Tries: 1

Rating 5/10

Fans had high hopes of the renowned speedster on his arrival but after early season injury he couldn't break back and went out on loan to Skolars. Undeniably quick but all-round game unproved here. Nevertheless League One winners Oldham have taken him on for their Championship campaign next year.

Others: Kane Reilly - app 1+2, tries 1; Jack Iley - app 0+3, tries 1; Jake Joynt - app 0+2, tries 1; Jay Leary - app 0+2; Scott Glassell - app 0+2; Luke Menzies - app 0+1.