Applegarth rules out injured York Knights trio for the season

YORK Knights trio Jesse Dee, Tom Lineham and Myles Harrison have been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Head coach Mark Applegarth confirmed on Sunday that Australian utility Dee - who last week penned a contract extension at the club until the end of 2025 - would face a lengthy injury lay-off with a ruptured bicep.

It is the second time that the 29-year-old has been sidelined with a bicep injury this season, having missed over a month of action due to a similar issue between April and May.

Dee has turned out at centre, second-row and half-back for the Knights this year, and has averaged a try every two games for the club since joining from Newcastle Thunder ahead of last season.

A leader on and off the field, Applegarth admits his loss will be a notable one.

“Jesse will be done for the year,” the head coach confirmed. “He’s got a ruptured bicep.

“I’m really disappointed with that one because he’s a quality player and he’s a big part of this team behind the scenes as well.

“I think it’ll be three or four months if it’s a rupture. I think he’s having surgery this week, so we’ll go from there, but I wish a speedy recovery for him as well.

“He seems [in good spirits], and I’m going to chat to him later today.

“But the main thing is first and foremost, we get his injury repaired and then we can put a plan in place to get him back to full fitness and keep him around the team.

“He’s a big leader off the field as well for York, so the main thing is that we get him fit first, and then look after him after that.”

And whilst Applegarth had no part to play in extending Dee’s contract, he cannot wait to see him back out on the field.

“I’m really over the moon that he’s staying,” he enthused.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t have any say in that. It had all been sorted in the weeks previous.

“But one thing that I do know about Jesse is that he’s a quality player, a quality person and a big part of what’s going on at York.

“I am really looking forward to coaching him and seeing him back out there in a York shirt.”

The Knights are also likely to face the remainder of the season without outside backs Lineham and Harrison.

Lineham was withdrawn injured during the first half of their 40-18 triumph against Halifax Panthers on May 19, whilst former Heworth youngster Harrison - seen sporting a sling last weekend - was one of a number of casualties from their shambolic 36-16 defeat to Whitehaven the previous week.

With Hull FC loanee Charlie Severs also absent with a shoulder injury, half-back Nikau Williams has been forced to deputise in the centres for the last fortnight - and was ruthlessly exploited by Featherstone last weekend.

And that seems like a headache set to continue for weeks to come.

“Tom’s torn his pectoral, he’s done for the year,” Applegarth revealed.

“Myles, he had shoulder surgery last week, so I’d be very surprised if we saw him again this year as well.”

There is however a light at the end of the tunnel, with 2023 top-scorer AJ Towse likely to return to contention over the coming weeks after pulling up during last month’s incredible comeback at Swinton Lions.

The head coach added:“AJ’s still working his way back, hopefully in the next two or three weeks.”