YORK Knights cannot be wasteful with their kicking game against Hull KR tomorrow evening, warned Mark Applegarth.
The sides will meet in front of a club record crowd at the LNER Community Stadium in the third round of the Challenge Cup, the Knights’ first home match in 2025.
Ticket sales for the fixture have already surpassed the 4,000 mark, with over 1,000 sold within the first hour on Sunday evening.
However, despite overcoming a youthful Robins in the inaugural Amsterdam Challenge last month, it’s a very different side they will face this time around.
Willie Peters has included all of his first-choice 17 in his preliminary squad, with Man of Steel, and Knights cult hero, Mikey Lewis set to return to the city.
And as a result, Applegarth knows York must be at their best if they are to progress to round four.
“I think you definitely can’t be wasteful, especially with their back three,” he stressed.
“If you look at [Niall] Evalds, he’s a handful isn’t he if you don’t get your kick chase right, they’ve got [Joe] Burgess on one wing and I think [Tom] Davies is an excellent signing for them.
“We’ll be doing a bit of homework on that.
“In terms of the kicking plan, all three of them have got their own strengths and their own weaknesses.
“We’ll be focusing more on our systems, where we need to improve, and at this stage of the year I think that’s the most important thing.”
Whilst the Knights’ kicking game was not always at its most effective in 2024, they’ve got more options this time around.
Ata Hingano and Liam Harris offer plenty of threat from half-back, as does full-back Will Dagger, whilst new recruit Paul McShane provides a different dynamic from hooker.
And that’s without mentioning the versatile Sam Cook and Jesse Dee, who have both had spells in the halves.
“I think getting Macca in at nine who can do those kicks is a great addition to us,” Applegarth explained.
“We’re lucky that we’ve got Liam and Ata who are natural right and left foot kickers, you’ve got Dags at full-back who can cover in, Macca at nine.
“Even Jesse fancies himself with an attacking kick here and there! Sam Cook can put a good toe in. We’ve got quite a few.
“I think Kieran Buchanan put a nice little kick in off a two-pass shift last week.
“We’re getting there with it, and it’s pleasing to see the lads starting to get that cohesiveness among themselves and putting little plays on like that.
“For me, that’s what rugby’s all about. I love players who express themselves - I’m not saying be reckless with it, but definitely be creative.
“It’s an area we can massively improve on from last year.”
