NEW recruit Richard Wilson is looking forward to getting down to business with York City Knights, despite starting on a sour note.

The 29-year-old prop made his debut off the bench on Sunday and, although the Knights lost at home to Hunslet, the Hull KR loan ranger was delighted to don the white shirt having had few recent run-outs at Craven Park.

"It was not the start I wanted, but from a personal point of view I'm glad to be on the pitch," he told the Evening Press.

"I'm fairly happy with my effort for the boys. I made an error but put a good stint in considering I've not had good game-time at Rovers.

"It's a case of getting my way in at York and doing a good job for them."

Wilson, who had lost his regular berth in the Robins' line-up after illness early in the campaign, had signed at Huntington Stadium only 36 hours before Sunday's game and was only set to have his first training session with the Knights tonight. His move is initially a one-month loan stint, but that may develop into something permanent.

"Last season I started all 36 games (for Hull KR) but this season I've played about two hours," he said.

"York approached the club and Rovers have said, 'Go and get some game-time', which I desperately need.

"I don't know how it stands with Rovers. The way they're talking they might want me back but we will have to see. I would like to stay longer. If I don't figure at Rovers this will be my first choice if York wanted me and Rovers did not."

As for Sunday's display in defeat by the Knights, Wilson said: "You can criticise a lot of things but I'd like to think it was not through a lack of effort. Hunslet played to the conditions better than we did, playing a more basic game. We did not adapt and were out-enthused as well."

He added: "It's a bit of a blow but there's no need to get suicidal. It's one defeat at the end of the day so there's no need to be too despondent."

The experienced prop, rated by Knights coach Richard Agar as an 80-minute go-forward player, steered clear from boasting about York's promotion chances, but said there was a lot of potential at the club.

"It's too early for me to say we're going to do this or that because I don't know anybody yet... but if we can learn from the things that went wrong and listen to the coaching staff we have the personnel to do well," he said.

"Lee Jackson is there and there's a bit of experience in the backs but the hooker, Jim Elston, and the two half-backs (Scott Rhodes and Danny Brough) are very young.

"It's a very young squad generally and we've got to learn together."

Updated: 11:27 Tuesday, April 20, 2004