CHRIS THORMAN reckons York City Knights could unearth Super League stars of the future with dual-registered Warrington duo Brooke Broughton and Ben Hellewell.

The two signings, as reported by The Press, came at the same time the Knights unveiled former Leeds and Hull ace Jordan Tansey as their biggest signing of the winter, during the opening friendly of the year against Keighley on Sunday. All three will train for the first time tonight.

The club have also been talking to another player of Super League pedigree in former Bradford and Harlequins forward Michael Worrincy, and, although it remains to be seen whether he will follow this trio to Huntington Stadium, player-boss Thorman says the three deals that have been concluded validate club chiefs’ decision to bide their time with recruitment over the off-season.

Of Broughton and Hellewell, he reckons the fact they are so highly rated by Warrington boss Tony Smith, the former Great Britain chief who led the Wolves to the League Leaders Shield last season, means they are onto a winner.

York fans had previously been concerned with the club’s relative lack of transfer activity, but Thorman said: “I assured everyone we’d be all right and that we weren’t going to panic. We’ve got three signings of quality there.”

Broughton, the younger brother of Salford flier Jodie, is a forward, while Hellewell – who was lined up for a move to Featherstone before they signed Gareth Raynor – can play along the back line.

Thorman said: “Jodie is pretty much the quickest thing in Super League and his brother is a prop with similar athleticism, ideal to bring off the bench.

“Ben is also a player Tony Smith holds in high regard. He’s a good young man as well, which is what we want at the club. He’s not going to be figuring in Warrington’s first team immediately but they’re on first-team contracts.

“Tony said when you see him with the boys you’ll know what he’s talking about and you’ll want to keep him. If someone like Tony Smith says those things, and if Featherstone wanted him, he must be able to play.

“I’m excited about working with both of them.”

The Warrington duo could make their bows in Sunday’s friendly against Leeds. For Broughton it could be a notable occasion as he used to be in the Rhinos’ youth set up and will have played alongside many of the team they are likely to bring to York.

Tansey was also a youngster at Leeds a few years earlier and likewise could feature after his first week training with his new club.

“We’ll have to see how he gets on in training,” said Thorman of the former. “It’ll be an interesting one for him and he might want to play in it against lads he knows.”

• Former Knights reserve Jon Schofield has agreed to join Dewsbury.