After signing fresh terms with the Knights, forward Joe Porter expressed his delight at extending his stay with his hometown club.
“I’m really pleased to have been offered an extension on my contract and that I’ve been given the chance to continue the journey the club is on at the minute,” he explained.
“Playing for my hometown team really means a lot to me. There’s no better feeling than getting to pull on the shirt on a Sunday and playing in front of the home crowd.”
27-year-old Porter further noted the impact of the people at the club as being key to him wanting to stay. “All the lads and staff are great,” he said. “There’s a real buzz around the place at the minute so it as a really easy decision to stay at the club.”
Porter initially joined the Knights in 2017 from local amateur club York Acorn and quickly established himself as a regular, helping the team to promotion in his second season with the club. As one of the longest-serving players at the Knights, he acknowledged both his and the club’s growth in that time. “I can’t really believe how far we’ve come in the last four years,” Porter revealed. “It’s been an amazing journey and I can’t wait to carry it on.
“I feel like I’ve developed so much due to the coaching staff investing a lot of time into me,” he added, commenting also on the excellent York St John University’s Sports Park as the Knights training base. “The facilities we have are great,” he expressed, agreeing that they have enabled him and others to progress and develop with the club.
Next season will see Porter form part of a pack which, in addition to the experience of the likes of Chris Clarkson, Danny Washbrook and Sam Scott to name just three, will see Super League veteran Danny Kirmond join the ranks from Wakefield Trinity. “It will be a great opportunity to play alongside Danny and all the other experienced lads,” he said. Explaining that he feels he can learn from their know-how within the game, he paid tribute to the other vastly experienced forwards he has lined up alongside in the black and amber. “I feel like I’ve learnt a lot over the years from the likes of Tim Spears and Graeme Horne who are also have huge experience,” he shared.
Head coach James Ford has commented in recent weeks of the immense competition for places there will be at the Knights next year but, whoever is selected, will have the pleasure of running out at the LNER Community Stadium, something Porter admits he is eager to do.
“It’s really exciting for the lads to get to play in the new stadium,” he outlined. “From what I’ve seen it looks really impressive so I can’t wait to get out there.”
Finally, Porter paid tribute to the fans who he is keen to see join the team at our new home in 2021. A player whose signature has been enabled by Squadbuilder, Porter said: “I think the fans have been incredible in recent months and their support means a lot to the lads and the club.
“I hope we can carry on getting the large numbers down to the games so we can repay them on the field.”
Comments