JACK STEARMAN believes he has proved critics wrong by winning a regular berth in the York City Knights line-up – and now a new contract for 2011.

The 22-year-old prop, a product of New Earswick All Blacks ARLC, rarely got a look-in with the Knights’ first team while previous coaches Paul March and James Ratcliffe were at the helm, but he has played in each of the last 11 games – coinciding with new boss Dave Woods’ arrival at the club.

Stearman has now lauded the Aussie for the immediate impact he has had on his burgeoning career, and says he had no hesitation in agreeing to stay at his home-town club next year.

“There were people doubting whether I could make it,” said Stearman. “I was doing well in the reserves but never got in the first team.

“I felt I should have played more games last year but I never got that opportunity, but I think I’ve proved a few people wrong this year.

“Dave Woods coming in has helped me. I played in the second week he came to the club (initially as director of rugby) – I scored three tries in the reserves away to Dewsbury, after which he approached me asking if I wanted to be in the first team or in the reserves all year.

“I was given a chance and I feel I’ve played pretty well.

“I can approach him and I think he sees me as someone to work on. He speaks to me about where I’m going right and wrong. He’s influenced me quite a lot.”

Stearman’s impact was also recognised by his former coach after Sunday’s Championship One game at Hunslet. “Paul March (now Hunslet player-coach) came up to me and said I’d played well, which was good of him.”

This is Stearman’s fifth year at the Knights, the previous seasons being spent in the academy and the reserves in between spells back at the All Blacks.

He also now works in the office and the club’s community development schemes and said of his new deal: “It’s not about money – it’s about playing for York.

“I’m a York lad and I was not going to go anywhere else. I work for them, I live in York, and I love playing for my home-town team.

“It’s good to sign for next year – it’s a reward for how I’ve played and hopefully I can become a better, stronger player.

“There’s always room for improvement. The second year is always tougher as well as people start to realise who you are.

“I am learning week in, week out. The likes of (fellow props) Nathan Freer and Alex Benson have been coached at clubs like Hull and have been taught techniques for a while.

“I haven’t had that but I’m getting it now, and Benno and Nathan especially are helping me in training, while me and Brett Waller have been learning off each other.”

Stearman is also improving his fitness, which he admits had held him back.

“I feel I’m getting fitter and can do longer stints,” he said. “I’ve been doing more work on it, though I know I can do more. I want to be playing longer and if I can build on that with a full pre-season it will help.”

As for his aims, he said: “I want to play more games and get in teams of the month.

“I think we’ve got the best front row in the division. If we can keep that together we can build on it.

“I’m confident we can go up this year and if we do we’d want to stay up next year. If we don’t, we’d want to win the title next year.”