SECOND-ROW star Ian Kirke says York City Knights would be his first port of call should his Super League dream stall next season.

As revealed by the Evening Press last month, the giant 24-year-old is to officially join Leeds having spent much of this season benefiting from the special arrangement between the clubs by training full-time with the Rhinos while playing for York.

But he told the Press that while his goal would be to break into the first team at Headingley, he would always be happy to return to York if he found himself on the fringes.

"Leeds seem fairly keen for me to go there but whether they might want me to go back (on loan) to York I don't know," he explained.

"Mick Cook (Knights coach) has had to replace me and expect that I'm not going to be there.

"He's got to get on with building his squad and I'm sure he will do that, which might have a bearing on things.

"But if I was going to go to any National League club next season, my first choice would always be York.

"I've had a good year there - the crowd are great, the directors are great and the coaching staff are great - and I've been very happy at the club."

Kirke, who scored five tries in 21 games for York, spent the last month of the season on loan at London Broncos having been allowed to spend time with another Super League club after the Knights secured promotion to LHF National League One.

There has since been no contract offer from the Broncos, with the Londoners already knowing he was likely to join Leeds, but Kirke said he enjoyed his time in the capital.

"It was pretty good," he said.

"I was disappointed at not playing - I was 18th man three times, which was a bit frustrating - but it was a good experience to see a different place and different coaching styles."

He added: "I've got a chance to go full-time (with Leeds) and I can't see many people turning down that opportunity.

"I will try to prove myself at Leeds and my aim is definitely to get into Super League next season but I have to prove myself at that level and see how it goes."

Updated: 08:53 Saturday, October 22, 2005