MARK Applegarth has challenged winger AJ Towse to be patient if he is to regain his place in York Knights’ starting line-up.

And the head coach admits he could not look either Brad Ward or Joe Brown in the eye if he dropped them after a string of impressive performances.

Brown took his individual season tally to 14 after a brace in Sunday’s 27-0 victory against Doncaster, whilst Ward has scored three times in the five games since Applegarth’s appointment.

“AJ, I’ve challenged him just to be patient,” explained the head coach of Towse, who instead turned out for dual registration partners Newcastle Thunder last weekend.

“He’s obviously a talent, but I think Wardy and Browny have been in a rich vein of form. I wouldn’t be able to look them in the eyes if I dropped them without good reason.

“So as long as those two keep playing the way that they are, AJ’s just going to have to be patient.”

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Towse has endured a somewhat turbulent season after finishing 2023 as the club’s top-scorer and narrowly missing out on scooping the Championship’s Young Player of the Year.

Dropped by former boss Andrew Henderson during the early stages of the campaign, he instead turned out for Newcastle, with his absence prompting a backlash from some supporters.

He was reinstated back into the Knights’ squad at the beginning of May, scoring against Halifax Panthers later that month, before pulling his hamstring in support of Jordan Thompson and Brown in their thrilling comeback at Swinton Lions.

After losing his starting spot to Ward, he is yet to feature under his new head coach despite being back to full fitness, having been a water boy against Barrow before making his second Thunder appearance against Hunslet last Sunday.

But a strong competition for places on the wing is a headache that Applegarth is relishing.

“It’s a good position to be in,” he admitted.  “To have quality players vying for two spots, that’s what you want.

“That’s what’s going to drive competition, and ultimately the standard on the field.”