REIGNING Press Player of the Year Mark Applegarth has left York City Knights to play in Australia.

The 25-year-old prop, who has been at the Knights since 2008, has been released at Huntington Stadium and will join New South Wales outfit Temora Dragons.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson stressed that Applegarth’s release had not come in the wake of head coach James Ratcliffe’s comments – following last week’s 44-34 loss at Rochdale – where he said: “It’s time we moved on some of our, say, more skilful players.”

Applegarth had first asked to move down under in March but his request had been denied. Now, with the Knights better off at prop, Wilson said he had been allowed to leave. He swept the board in awards last season, not only winning the Press gong but also being named players’ player and supporters’ player of the year, as well as being the only Knight in the Co-operative Championship One team of the year.

Temora play in the Group 9 Rugby League competition based around the areas of Wagga Wagga – which is between Sydney and Melbourne.

They last won the XXXX Gold Group 9 First Grade title in 2006.

Applegarth, if selected by his new club, will be turning out against the likes of Lavington Panthers, Tumbarumba Greens and Cootamundra Bulldogs.

He is not the only Knight to have gone to Temora, following Trevor Krause’s move there in 2003.

Wilson said: “Things have changed a bit now. We don’t believe we are too badly off in terms of props at the club. Mark didn’t play last week and none of the four props who did had a bad game.

“He is keen to widen his experience and you can’t knock a player when they get a chance to go and play in Australia. When he asked originally it wasn’t right, now we have got players capable of filling his place.

“Jack Stearman has gone well and we are hoping Davey Burns will have a similar impact. There’s also Nathan Freer, John Fallon and Brett Waller.

“He is an experienced player and had a great season last year. By his own admission he has not had as good a season this time. This will free us up to go out and bring someone else in.”