SIMON Friend has touched down in York determined to turn last season's Grand Final despair into rapture.

The Aussie back-rower is hell-bent on helping York City Knights win promotion from LHF Healthplan National League Two and thus exorcise the ghosts of that famous finale in which three late tries brought defeat by Halifax and - as illustrated by the above unforgettable Evening Press photograph - overwhelming gloom.

"We've got to go for the automatic promotion spot," Friend told the Press on his arrival back in the Minster city.

"That's got to be the goal, to finish first. I want to enjoy myself again here and get the promotion we just missed out on last year."

Friend, who has previously told the Press that mutual respect for York fans helped in his decision to rejoin the Knights, today declared he would probably have come back to England for no other team.

He explained: "I was really happy at home but then got the call. It was a hard decision to come across but knowing we like York helped.

"I just sat down with (my girlfriend) Katrina and we weighed everything up. The fact it was York made a big difference for us. Knowing the place and knowing the people made it easier. I probably would not have done it had it been anywhere other than York."

He added: "I turn 28 this year and it's probably the last opportunity for me to do something like this.

"When I go back home I'll be getting into settled life and probably concentrating on a career other than football. Hopefully it will be the right decision."

Friend's love for York is highlighted in the fact he turned down the chance of National League One rugby with Barrow, despite never denying a wish to play at the highest level possible.

"Right now I just want to play well for York," he said.

"It will take a couple of weeks to get into the rhythm but I'm just concentrating on settling in and doing my best."

Friend had joined Jim Beam Cup club Erina Eagles in the off-season but played just one trial game before signing a new one-year deal with York. However, he had been training "pretty hard" and head coach Mick Cook is set to throw him straight into the 17 for Sunday's Northern Rail Cup match against Castleford, who ironically he was linked with last term.

Friend said: "I know Colin Sanctuary (conditioner), Jason Ramshaw and Paul Broadbent (assistant-coaches) from last year, but I hadn't met Mick Cook or Daryl Powell (coaching consultant) before this week.

"I only knew what I'd heard about them but I'd heard good things and I'm looking forward to it.

"It's good to see some of the old boys again as well."

Cook was delighted Friend had arrived. He added: "Simon's probably got a bit of jet lag but he's trained okay and, as everybody knows, he is bound to be a good asset to the squad."

Updated: 09:38 Thursday, March 17, 2005