YORK City Knights are unlikely to take their interest in Super league star Paul Cooke any further – but have delved elsewhere into the top flight to bolster their pack.

The Knights have agreed terms with prop forward Ben Jones who has been released by Harlequins after a year as a full-timer with the Londoners.

The news comes less than a week after Knights chiefs made an initial approach to controversial former Hull, Hull KR and Wakefield loose-forward/stand-off Cooke – only for head coach Dave Woods, who had been in France with the Great Britain Community Lions Under-18s at the time, to be cool on the idea.

General manager Ian Wilson confirmed he did speak to Cooke but admitted talks, though “not dead in the water”, would probably not go forward. However, he also confirmed Jones was on his way to Huntington Stadium.

The 22-year-old played three times for Quins this year, in Super League against St Helens in April and Hull in May, and against Saints again in the Challenge Cup fifth round tie in May.

He made three appearances for London Skolars in Championship One as part of a dual-registration agreement, before his season was hampered by a sternum injury. He ended the campaign on loan at Doncaster in Championship One, playing half a dozen times.

Jones impressed Hull enough in his appearance against them for the Black and Whites to consider offering a full-time deal, although such an opportunity was ultimately not forthcoming.

The Press understands, however, that he did receive firm offers from the Knights’ Championship rivals, Sheffield and Dewsbury, but instead chose York, and a reunion with Ryan Esders, with whom he roomed while the pair were at Harlequins.

Jones had come through the Leeds Rhinos academy before joining Quins for the 2010 season.

Wilson said: “He was linked with Hull and was waiting to hear back as to whether he’d be offered a full-time deal. Fortunately for us, that didn’t materialise and he’s agreed to come here.

“Ryan mentioned him the other week. We had already spoken to his agent but Ryan effectively recommended him and that leant a bit of weight to it.”

Jones will become the seventh recognised prop on the Knights’ books for 2011, joining Alex Benson, Nathan Freer, Jack Stearman, Brett Waller, Davey Burns and new recruit Matt Barron.

Another prop, Callum Dinsdale, who came from nowhere to play a part in the Knights’ Championship One play-off triumph, has been released from his contract.

Dinsdale arrived on trial in mid-season and broke into the first team, following injuries to other front- rowers, in July, playing in six of the club’s last seven games, including all of the play-off ties and the momentous Grand Final win over Oldham.

However, he has asked to be allowed to play amateur rugby again and the club were happy for him to do so. He had been offered an improved pay-as-you-play deal for 2011 but opted not to take it up.

Wilson added: “We would welcome him back and wish him all the best.”

Meanwhile, former York loanee Luke Ambler, the 20-year-old Leeds and Ireland prop, has signed a one-year loan deal with Harlequins, effectively replacing Jones in their first-team squad.