FANS favourite Craig Forsyth is aiming to lord it over the opposition for one last season for York City Knights Rugby League Club.

The 35-year-old forward, who was bought a lordship for Christmas, has inked a deal with his hometown club after months of pre-season training and vowed to make his swansong year count - however tough it may be in a prop-heavy team.

He said: "The more competition the better. It's going to raise everybody's game.

"There's 26 people training every week for just 17 places - there's going to be nine disappointed each week.

"But it encourages you to really go for it. You have to put it in in training, you can't rest on your laurels at all."

Forsyth is giving away more than ten years on the other seven prop contenders, their average age without him coming in at 23. With him, it's closer to 25.

But he is determined to emulate the likes of Lee Jackson, who retired last season at 36, and scrum- half Brad Davis, who steered Castleford Tigers back into Super League aged 37.

"You can't buy experience," he said. "To me it's not an issue at all - it's not my fault if they can't keep up with me.

"I want to be in the 17 every week and that obviously means competing with the younger, fitter players but I am sure that I will be able to give them a run for their money."

But for someone who has ummed and ahhed about hanging up his boots before now, he has decided this is it.

"Definitely," he said. "I'm far too busy with other things. This is just squeezing one more year out of my body."

And this time he is looking to start with a clean slate after an up and down season in 2005 littered with injuries early on before a back end of the promotion campaign that saw him earn a place in the August NL2 team of the month to silence his critics.

He added: "There's no sense of having to prove anything now. I proved it at the end of last year."

The final season will take place in NL1 marking a return to the division he played in with Doncaster Dragons before joining the Knights in 2003.

"It's a good challenge to go back and play at that level," admitted Forsyth. "Although I don't think having played there before will be that much of an advantage because there are several players who have had experience even higher up."

His social status off the field is growing in stock after he received a lordship from a friend as a Christmas present.

He will soon be getting used to life as the Knights' answer to Liverpool footballer Djibril Cisse once he chooses his title from a selection of six and completes the paperwork.

The French forward bought Frodsham House in Cheshire when he joined the Anfield club and the title Lord Frodsham came with it.

Forsyth's title was a present and his moniker will no doubt be guarded by the paint-your-own stately gnome he also received at Christmas.

Forsyth reckons his Lord title is already rubbing off on his colleagues.

"We are dressing smarter now when we go to training," he joked.

Updated: 10:14 Thursday, January 12, 2006