YORK Wasps have pulled off a major coup with the signing of former Leeds Rhinos starlet Jonny Liddell.

The York-born youngster had seemed likely to join the Wasps' RL Premiership rivals Hunslet Hawks and had also held talks with Keighley Cougars and Doncaster, but instead opted to come to his home-town club.

As reported in the Evening Press a fortnight ago, the 19-year-old was released by the Super League outfit after the Rugby Football League scrapped its under-21 Alliance set-up, with the Wasps immediately among those clubs vying for his signature.

"It's all sorted and I'll sign today," he told the Evening Press.

"I went to training a few times to see what it was like and I enjoyed it; they're a good set of lads.

"Leo Epifania (Wasps' new coach) seems a good coach and everything he said made sense. He's got a lot of emphasis on team spirit and I think that's how it should be.

"We seem to be knitting together as a unit and since Leo's come we're gelling as a team even more. I'm going to give it my best with York.

"I want to enjoy my rugby, and hopefully I'll do well and we'll do well as a team and push for a top eight place."

The Wasps were delighted to have the talented half-back on board. "He'll be a great asset to the club," said chief executive Ann Garvey.

"He has looked at other clubs but we've been in discussions with him for quite a few weeks and we're delighted he chose to come here.

"We think he's an excellent player and he will bring a lot of professionalism to the club. He's a local lad with a lot of talent and I'm sure he will do extremely well."

The South Bank teenager had made great strides as the Rhinos first-choice Alliance stand-off after moving to Headingley from amateur club York Acorn, and he enjoyed an eye-catching first-team debut in March this year when thrust in to face Wigan, lining up at hooker for the first time in his life.

His performance that night in front of the Sky TV cameras was the only bright spot of Leeds' defeat, and he was rewarded with a place in their Challenge Cup semi-final squad to play St Helens the following weekend.

However, the return of regular hooker Matt Diskin relegated the then 18-year-old to the sidelines and he thereafter returned to the under-21s.

Updated: 11:41 Thursday, November 15, 2001