Fitzsimmons could scarcely have wished for a better debut season at York in 2023, winning the Forward of the Year at the End-of-Season Awards Evening.

The prop scored six tries in 28 appearances for Andrew Henderson’s side following his off-season switch from Workington Town as the Knights reached the Betfred Championship Play-Offs for the second successive season.

The Forward of the Year gong arrived, having won Workington’s Player of the Year award in 2022.

The ex-Castleford Tigers man spent four years at Workington across two spells before his move to North Yorkshire while also having a two-season stint at Newcastle Thunder earlier in his career.