Crook and Haynes are players of the week

Correspondent

Rochdale Hornets stand-off Paul Crook and York City Knights full-back James Haynes are the Kingstone Press Players of the Week.

Crook played in two positions during Rochdale’s win against North Wales Crusaders, scoring a try and kicking nine goals, while Haynes was a solid presence for the Knights in their triumph over Gateshead Thunder.

Every week each coach in both Kingstone Press Championship competitions is contacted to help produce the awards.

 

Kingstone Press Championship Player of the Week – Paul Crook (Rochdale Hornets)

Rochdale Hornets playmaker Paul Crook continued his influential form to help his side to an impressive 42-16 win at North Wales Crusaders.

Rochdale coach Ian Talbot hailed the performance of Crook, who played at both hooker and stand-off during the game.

Talbot said: “Paul is a really influential player in our squad. He helped us to stick to the plan in the early part of the game and got us off the mark with a great opportunist try from dummy half.

“Just after half time he came up with a game-winning play – he jumped out of dummy half and put Adam Bowman under the sticks untouched.

“After 50 mins he switched to his favoured position of six where he continued his form, putting Gaz Langley under the sticks with another great pass.

“To top off his performance he knocked over nine goals too.

“The ‘Ginger General’ is really leading from the front at the minute and has played a major role in our current form.”

 

Kingstone Press Championship One Player of the Week – James Haynes (York City Knights)

York City Knights full-back James Haynes earned praise for his display against Gateshead Thunder in Friday’s Kingstone Press Championship One clash.

Knights coach Gary Thornton said: “James was outstanding in everything he did.

“He was safe at the back and returned the ball really well to get us on the front foot, and then when Gateshead threw everything at us in the second half he was safe under the high ball.

“James also took over the captaincy when Jack Lee was spelled, and when we needed some cool heads he provided that for us. His leadership qualities were fantastic.”