YORK Knights boss Andrew Henderson is keen to extend Oli Field’s loan deal until the end of the season.

Field, 20, is close to the expiry of his one-month loan from Betfred Super League heavyweights Leeds Rhinos but has proved a capable and versatile addition to Henderson’s team, having played in the second-row against Keighley Cougars on Good Friday, before assisting James Glover from stand-off at Halifax Panthers last Sunday.

Explaining the decision to play Field in the halves alongside the returning James Cunningham last weekend, Henderson admitted that it was informed in part by the position that the youngster played as a junior.

“I was looking at the options that we had and and I thought well, Oli Field, he played his junior rugby league as a half-back,” he said.

“It’s not that he’s not played there for a number of years, but at least as a kid he had a a bit of a crack there - hence probably why now he’s predominantly a ball-playing middle or edge, or a back-rower.

“He’s got a bit of a skill-set there so you know he’ll be able to add something in in that role.

“I’ve been very impressed with Oli. In the games he’s played for us, I think he’s really been consistent in his performance levels.

“We’ll be certainly looking to to extend him further with us to the end of the year.”

Henderson has also been impressed with the Knights’ second on-loan player, outside back Connor Barley, who has joined until the end of the season from Hull KR.

It has at times been a baptism of fire for Barley, not least against Keighley’s ex-Super League pair Ben Crooks and Jimmy Keinhorst, but the head coach believes that he has lots of potential and can only develop during his time in York.

“Conor Barley, he’s a young player who I think has got a lot of potential,” he enthused.

“He’s had a pretty steep learning curve. His first hit out was up against Joey Leilua at Featherstone. He’s a world class centre, and [Barley] learned some lessons on that day.

“I thought he was great against Sheffield and again he’s learned some lessons against Keighley up against Keinhorst and Ben Crooks.

“So he’s been thrown in the in the deep end pretty quickly and he’s had to learn some harsh lessons pretty quickly.

“But I still feel that he’s delivered on what he’s been able to deliver at this stage of his development.

“I think he still has a a bright and exciting future ahead of him.”

Off the pitch, Henderson has also been pleased with the manner in which the newest members of his squad have been welcomed by the club’s current crop of players.

“[Field and Barley], They’ve both settled into the squad fine,” he added. “I think they’ve they’ve had no issues integrating in within the group

“They are a good group of guys, very welcoming, and they’ve welcomed both those young players in.

“They’ve made them probably settle and feel at ease, which is good. That’s important because when a new player is coming in, he needs to feel part of the environment, warm to it and become part of that group very quickly because he needs to go there and do a job for the team.

“I’ve got to give a credit to our playing group for the way that they’ve embraced the new players coming in and I think they’ve conducted themselves well.”