LIAM Harris is ready to be hit in the pocket to remove that ‘little chip’ on his shoulder and get back into Super League with York.
The Knights will be going full-time next year, whether they are in the top flight or the Championship.
Liam Harris believes York are ready to go up into Super League, even though it may mean some players end up with less moneySWPIX.COM
Promotion will ultimately be decided off the field but on it, the skipper is in no doubt players are good enough – even if it means losing out financially.
Harris, who works as a mortgage advisor, tasted Super League with Hull FC back in 2018 and he said: “I’ve got a little chip on my shoulder that tells me I can do it.
“It’s been something I’ve been longing for. I know I’m in a much better position now than I was at 21-years-old. I definitely wasn’t ready when I was playing in Super League.
“We’ve got players with kids and families to provide for and have very good jobs – with the money they’ll be earning from York too, they’ll probably be taking pay cuts to go to Super League, if that’s the case.”
York and opponents Toulouse lead the charge on and off the pitch as clubs await the outcome of strategic partner IMG’s grading scheme, plus an independent panel’s decision on whether Super League expands to 14 clubs on October 16.
Victory in today’s Championship Grand Final will add an extra 0.25 points to the winner’s IMG score. Toulouse, who finished 13th last year, missed out by 0.39 points to a Salford club whose 2025 total is certain to drop.
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Boss Mark Applegarth is in no doubt, his club is ready to develop a new North Yorkshire frontier – and he would like the French side to go up too.
The ex-Wakefield boss said: “Without sounding disrespectful to the environment that I had at that time at Wakefield, York is light years in front.
“York’s a completely different environment. It’s a bigger city, especially in terms of it being a tourist trap.
“It gets millions upon millions of visitors every year. We’ve got a training base that’s tailor-made for top-level sport and the stadium’s already up and running.
York boss Mark Applegarth would like to see both his side and Toulouse go upSWPIX.COM
“At Wakefield, it was the opposite. I think we’d be a great addition to Super League. The more that we can make it big, iconic cities alongside your traditional clubs, that’s the making of it for me.
“York deserves to be in Super League as a rugby city, 100 per cent they do – both clubs deserve to be in Super League, in my opinion.
“I’d like to see both York and Toulouse in Super League, if I’m perfectly honest.”
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