Challenge Cup: Five talking points from York Knights vs London Broncos

From another inspiring half-time team talk, to errors and playing out of position, here’s our five talking points from another thrilling encounter against London Broncos.

Henderson’s half time talk an inspiring one

What Knights fans would give to be a fly on the wall at one of Henderson’s half time team talks over recent weeks.

For the second consecutive week, he inspired his team to a sensational second-half turnaround, with both the Knights’ attacking and defensive play a stark contrast to a dismal first half.

Whilst it is certainly entertaining for the fans, and gets the job done for York, surely such a pattern cannot be sustainable.

Read what he said at the interval here

Teanby’s tackle on Waine

There is little doubt that the tackle from Jack Teanby on London centre Emmanuel Waine was one of the contributing factors to York’s turnaround.

Such was the manner of the hit, the influential Papua New Guinea international was left limping over to the far touchline, and despite returning to the field, struggled for a number of sets.

Henderson admitted post-match that he had fed instructions to his side to attack the right edge and that proved fruitful, with Waine unable to prevent a diving Olly Butterworth from bringing York back into the arm wrestle on the stroke of half time.

Daley continues to prove capable in the halves

Josh Daley again made his impact felt from half-back. (Image: Steve Gaunt)

Playing three consecutive matches at half-back is seldom what Josh Daley would have had in mind following his off-season move from Mount Pritchard Mounties, but it’s a position that the hooker has taken to well.

Despite his kicking game leaving a lot to be desired in the first half, the Australian provided some telling contributions in the second on the right edge, and deservedly found the space to cross for his own score.

Making penalties count

Four of the nine tries scored were fashioned from penalties, the first of which came straight from the kick off.

Whilst captain Chris Clarkson’s knock-on left an opening for Alex Walker to equalise for London after six minutes, the Knights were better able to reap the rewards as the pressure on their opponents told.

Despite James Glover’s success from the tee waning over recent weeks, his second-half penalty ensured that momentum stayed firmly with York.

A first run out for Olly Butterworth

Olly Butterworth scored a hat-trick on his competitive debut. (Image: Steve Gaunt)

Butterworth could hardly have wished for a better competitive debut after crossing for a well-taken hat-trick down the right edge.

The towering winger has been sidelined with a reoccurance of a shoulder dislocation injury since March 2022, but certainly took his opportunity to show Henderson what he could do on Sunday.

While there is still plenty for Butterworth to work on, for a man who has only played five times in his entire rugby career, the signs for York are encouraging.

However, if Matty Marsh is to return from a rib cartilage injury against Featherstone Rovers on Saturday, Joe Brown could be moved back to the wing in his place.