“DON’T do it for me - do it for each other.”

That was Liam Harris’s message to York Knights as he made his 100th appearance for the club at Dewsbury Rams on Sunday.

Harris, who was appointed as captain ahead of the season following Chris Clarkson’s retirement, finally brought up the milestone in his side’s 40-0 demolition of the Rams after having been sidelined for the last month with a shoulder injury.

He first made the move to North Yorkshire on loan from hometown club Hull KR in 2017, debuting at full-back in a 26-20 victory at home to Rochdale Hornets.

The 27-year-old went on to record 14 tries and 12 goals across his 18 appearances that season, later going on to return to the club for a second loan spell, in which he again made 18 appearances, from cross-city rivals Hull FC in 2019.

He made the permanent return to York ahead of the 2022 season, and has not looked back across his 64 appearances since.

The half-back has been typically humble about his achievements, and speaking to The Press after reaching 300 points for the Knights midway through last season, instead chose to highlight just how much he was enjoying his rugby under former coach Andrew Henderson.

Despite playing as their only recognised half-back for the majority of the 2023 season, Harris still recorded six tries and 21 assists as he took home the club’s Player of the Year, and penned a new two-year deal at the club in November.

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A combination of injury and suspension has seen him score four tries, three goals and one drop-goal so far this term, with new boss Mark Applegarth glad to be able to call upon his captain as his tenure began in sparkling fashion this weekend.

“Getting your captain back is always a big thing, but he doesn’t like it being about himself,” the head coach admitted after a crucial two points saw the Knights move out of the Betfred Championship relegation zone.

“We mentioned it was his 100th game on Friday, and it’s a credit to him because he said ‘don’t go out and do it for me, do it for each other’.

“But getting those sort of calibre of players back, it just gives you that composure that you need. They’ve been there and done it.

“That’s what the game’s all about, getting them combo’s right and making sure that you keep those combo’s fit. 

“Nine out of 10 times, it’s those teams that tend to be your solid teams fighting up at the right end of the table.”

Applegarth, who himself made over a century of appearances for the Knights during his playing career, explained that such achievements never really sink in until retirement.

Asked what players will receive as a commemoration, the head coach replied: “They get a shirt that mentions their 100th game and that it was against so and so.

“But they are things you mainly look back on at the end of your career - when you’re playing and you’re in the thick of it, you just go one week to the next.

“I’m sure that he’ll take great pride in looking back at that and remembering this game.

“Liam, as captain, I’m sure he’ll celebrate tonight, but then his focus will switch straight to Featherstone and trying to back up what we’ve done today.”