Ben Jones-Bishop on choosing York over Super League

Ben Jones-Bishop admitted that he saw “ambitious” York as a new challenge, despite offers to stay in Super League.

The former Leeds and Salford winger made the switch to Wakefield ahead of the 2016 season, making more than 100 appearances for the club, and revealed he had an offer to remain with Trinity.

However, the 32-year-old chose a new journey with Championship’s York under James Ford, with the City Knights set to play their home games at the newly built LNER Community Stadium in 2021.

Jones-Bishop said: “I had some offers, I could have stayed at Wakefield and that could have been the easiest thing to do.

“But given my time off, I just thought a new challenge was needed and this seems the perfect challenge really.

“It’s an ambitious club with great facilities. It looks like everything is in place and a good squad, so it’s a challenge for me and I’m looking forward to it.”

READ: Ben Jones-Bishop excited to play alongside brother Aaron for Jamaica at World Cup

The Knights will host Super League’s Hull FC in their first game since the pandemic hit in a pre-season friendly at their new home on March 11, before travelling to Sheffield in the Challenge Cup.

Their Championship campaign kicks-off against promotion-favourites Toulouse.

Jones-Bishop added: “It’s been really good. The first few sessions took some catching up to speed of what we train. It’s really good.

“The facilities are first class and for me it’s just well organised and standards are high. You’re prepped before your sessions and then you go out on the field and the players, we keep up the standards.

“The boys have been good – I obviously know a few from Leeds and Wakefield – I think we’ve trained hard and trained well.”

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