THE Evening Press will once again be running the annual Player of the Year competition this season thanks once again to sponsorship from Collier Plant Hire.

As in previous years, the man of the match in each game as chosen by the Evening Press will receive three player-of-the-year points, while whoever is deemed to be the second-best player will receive two points and the third-best player one point.

Supporters will once again have their say in the competition, as the winner of each Player of the Month award - as voted for by the fans (read on for details) - will be given three additional player-of-the-year points.

Collier Plant Hire have again put a substantial cash prize aside for the eventual 2005 Player of the Year winner and runner-up.

The reigning Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire champion is Lee Jackson, who just pipped Players' Player of the Year Scott Rhodes to the award, to succeed 2003 winner Trevor Krause.

Jackson will be presented with his award in front of the fans before tomorrow's first home game of this season, against Hunslet Hawks (kick off 3pm). A representative of sponsors Collier Plant Hire will make the presentation.

THE Press has also again linked up with the Knights to launch an all-new Player of the Month competition.

This year's format has been tweaked slightly from last year but once again readers and supporters alone will decide which player wins the award each month.

And once again, anyone who sends in a vote will get the chance to win not only two VIP tickets to a home game but also the chance to present the award to the victorious player on the Huntington Stadium pitch.

All you have to do is send in your vote for the Player of the Month to the Evening Press Sportsdesk at the end of every month.

Whichever player gets the most votes wins the award, while every person who sends in a vote will go into the hat, with one lucky reader winning two tickets to the next home game and the chance to present the player with his award on the pitch-side before the match.

Votes can be emailed to peter.martini@ycp.co.uk or sent on a postcard to Peter Martini, Evening Press Sportsdesk, 76-86 Walmgate, YO1 9YN.

Make sure your full name, address and daytime contact number are written clearly on the email or postcard. Mark your entry "Player of the Month vote".

The deadline for all votes to be received by the Sportsdesk will be noon on the Thursday that follows the last game of each particular month.

LOCAL lad Lee Paterson heads the Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire table after the first week following his man-of-the-match display in the opening day defeat to Castleford.

The York born-and-bred loose-forward was the stand-out player for the Knights at The Jungle and thus picks up the first three-point haul of the season, while John Smith, who battled hard up front, collects the second award of two points and big prop Adam Sullivan picks up the remainder.

Updated: 11:09 Saturday, February 19, 2005