NEW Australian signing Trevor Krause has already shown his commitment to the York City Knights cause without touching a ball.

The 30-year-old former Illawara Steelers star arrived in York in the early hours of yesterday morning after a long-haul 32-hour flight.

But despite the obvious jet-lag was still keen to get to training last night to meet his new team-mates and get straight into the groove.

He has also been named in tomorrow's squad to face Wakefield, who are set to bring a full-strength Super League line-up to Huntington Stadium (kick-off 2.30pm).

"It was a 23-hour flight but with the stop-overs and a couple of mix-ups it lasted 32 hours," he told the Evening Press. "It was just good to have a sleep in a bed.

"I still wanted to go to training, though. I wanted to get down early and have a chat with Paul Broadbent (player-coach) and see what's what before going on the pitch."

Krause left his home town of Wogga Wogga, between Sydney and Melbourne where recent temperatures have ranged from 36 to 39 degrees, to come to York.

"The weather over here is not too bad," he added. "Well, it's better than I'd been told anyway. But it's a bit of a change, that's for sure."

Krause admits he knows little about the National League, or indeed about the Knights, but is confident of doing York proud.

He had been playing for Temora - and winning a host of individual awards - in Australia's Group Nine league, a country rugby league competition which is effectively two levels below the National Rugby League.

The Sydney-based Metro Cup, the Aussie equivalent of National League One, is regarded as one level below the NRL, but the Group Nine competition is regarded as one of the better country RL tournaments and its best clubs would be good enough to compete in the Metro Cup.

"I have no real idea of the standard of the National League, I've just gone by the quality of the players that I know in the competition and it seems to be a fair standard," added Krause, who has received rave reviews from Knights' contacts Down Under.

"I know of a lot of the players who have Super League experience and a few of the Aussies, but it's mainly pretty much knew to me.

"I would like to think I'm good enough and obviously I would not have signed if I thought I would let anyone down."

This will be the second time in England for Krause, who moves to York with his wife, Kylie.

His only other trip to Britain was 18 months ago when he helped the New South Wales Police team enjoy an unbeaten tour.

"It's a good challenge for me and we wanted to see a bit of the world," he added.

The Aussie can play in several roles, including half-back and loose-forward, but his preferred role is at hooker.

"I realise I will have tough competition for that place," he laughed, referring to the Knights' top-line number nine, former Great Britain star Lee Jackson.

"But anywhere is fine. I'll have a good chat with Paul Broadbent and see what the situation is. I'm looking forward to it all."

Updated: 10:47 Saturday, January 11, 2003