NEW-BOY Dean Ripley is determined to prove himself good enough to win a contract at York City Knights for the rest of 2006.

The 22-year-old made a shock debut for the Knights in Sunday's defeat at Halifax, the club having kept his registration under wraps.

He now wants to break through permanently and, having turned down a deal with National League Two side Featherstone, wants to prove himself at National League One level and above.

"I'm hoping to get back in Super League at some stage and right now I'm hoping to get a contract with the club for this season," said the former Castleford Tigers player.

The Leeds-born six-footer played a few times in the elite tier for the Tigers in 2004, having shone in their Academy set-up from the age of 16.

He was loaned to Featherstone at the start of last season and the move then became permanent only for knee ligament and cartilage trouble, which required three operations, to cut short his season.

Rovers wanted him to return to Post Office Road this season as they bid to bounce straight back up from NL2, but he delayed his return to rugby following the birth of his daughter and decided he wanted to stay in NL1.

His move to York came about via Knights scrum-half Phil Hasty. Ripley explained: "Phil is a good mate of mine and he said York were a good set-up and said to come down training, and I've enjoyed it ever since."

He has been training at Huntington Stadium for three weeks and the injury situation at the Knights led to boss Mick Cook throwing him in as a second half substitute at the Shay in place of the crocked Neil Law.

The plan was to put him on in his preferred position of stand-off but Cook had no qualms using him at centre, especially given that his appearances in Super League had been in that role.

As for his first game, the 34-24 loss, Ripley added: "I told Mick Cook that I was ready whenever he needed me to play. My knee's fine and I'm fit, though I probably need that match sharpness.

"It was good to play. I did not think the score reflected the game - I thought the referee played a big part. Halifax took their chance when they got it, but if we cut out our mistakes we should have walked away with a win.

"The team spirit is there and everyone wants to win - we just need to cut out the errors."

Updated: 09:36 Wednesday, April 19, 2006