York Knights skipper’s injury confirmed as boss provides update on hospitalised star

York Knights will be without captain and half-back Liam Harris for “a prolonged period”, after he picked up a hamstring injury in the Challenge Cup.

Harris, who scored twice and was named Man of the Match in the win over Keighley Cougars, felt a twinge in his leg towards the end of the contest, and scan results have now shown that he has a hamstring tear, with scans set to reveal the length of the layoff.

The news comes as a big blow to the newly-promoted side, who are also without veteran Jordan Thompson, after he suffered an serious arm injury against Warrington Wolves.

Boss Mark Applegarth confirmed the news in his weekly press conference, saying: “He had a scan this morning [Monday], so we’re just waiting for the results back on that, but definitely will be a few weeks out for Liam.

“I’m gutted for him on a personal level, because I know how hard he’s been working, but it’s a great opportunity for someone else to showcase their talents too.”

Asked how Harris is feeling, the boss explained: “He’s going to have a bit of disappointment, but once he gets the severity of the injury back, we can then reverse engineering and get a plan in place.

“He knows it’s a pretty prolonged period out, there’s no hiding away from that, it’s going to [hurt] for a day or two, but as soon as we get that severity of the strain there, we’ll be able to put a plan in place, but he’ll be back, he’s a pretty good professional in that sense.”

Danny Richardson is expected to feature at half-back in his place, with the former St Helens and Castleford man making his third appearance of the season.

Speaking on the playmaker, the York boss said: “Danny’s a natural scrum half.

“He likes to control the game. He’s got a lovely kicking game that speaks for itself. He’s got an excellent passing game and he enjoys playing that dominant half role, the guy that steers you around the field.

“I’m gutted for Liam but excited for Danny as well that he can put his stamp on the team in that sense.

“It’s just the nature of the game. It’s always someone’s misfortune that creates someone else’s fortune, isn’t it? You’ve just got to learn to roll with the blows and move forward.”

Richardson has featured at stand-off in his first two York games, but will get a chance to play his natural position of seven this week, as the Knights travel to Wigan Warriors.

Hospitalised York Knights star given all-clear

Elsewhere, in what is positive news for the Knights, Sam Wood has been cleared of any injury after the centre took a poke to the eye over the weekend.

Featuring in the side’s Challenge Cup win over Keighley, Wood got on the scoresheet, but was taken from the field in the first half, due to the eye poke.

Wood was sent to hospital as a precaution, but Applegarth has confirmed that the ex-Castleford man is fine and will be available for selection on Thursday evening.

The York boss also provided an update on another injured man, Kieran Hudson, who has not featured for the club since the Championship Grand Final defeat to Toulouse in 2025.

“He’ll start straight-line running very soon,” Applegarth said regarding the ex-Leeds forward. “He’s had an MCL injury so you’ve just got to be pretty careful with him. But he’s back, looking pretty good physically on the off-feet stuff.

“We’ve just got to move him onto the field and the medical and physio team will be going through all that and making sure that he can return to training as soon as he can.”