ONE of York City Knights’ brightest young things has agreed to stay at Huntington Stadium – just as first-teamers rally round captain Alex Benson’s clarion call to ensure they stay in the Championship.

Ed Smith, the 18-year-old prodigy who has broken into the side nine times this term, has agreed a new two-year contract keeping him at the club until the end of 2013, despite predictions of Super League interest.

The agreement is in place regardless of what division the relegation-threatened Knights play in next term and will come as a fillip for fans.

In a further boost, Benson’s call to arms, as exclusively reported by The Press on Tuesday, was backed up by team-mates that night as 16 of the 17 players who took part in Sunday’s debacle at Halifax got together for impromptu training – despite being given the day off by the club. The other player, Ben Jones, had work commitments.

The Press understands the session was led by Benson and another of the senior players, James Ford.

Head coach Dave Woods – who is currently mulling over his own contract offer with his family – said Smith’s signature was “tremendous” for the club.

And he was also lifted by the players’ response to scathing criticism of Sunday’s performance when they lost 76-38 to make it 122 points conceded in the two games since the wins over Dewsbury and high-flying Batley.

Said Woods of Smith: “He’s a very good young kid to have around.

“ He plays well, he’s no trouble and he trains really well.

“He’s got a bit to learn but he wants to learn. He gets hard on himself if he makes errors.”

Woods has previously tipped Smith for a potential Super League future and says he would not be surprised to see top-tier clubs sniffing around him – suggesting it was good to tie the player down for two years He said: “I think there’ll be even more next year if he’s playing consistently.

“There’ll be quite a few standing up and taking notice.”

A number of York teenagers have recently joined Super League clubs’ junior systems, and Woods also hoped Smith’s rise would have a knock-on effect for the Knights.

“It’s good for the other local kids to see they can play a high level in their own area,” he said.

Injury meant Smith was not considered for the Halifax match, after which Woods threatened a long night of training tonight, as well as a “name and shame” video session, following the team’s woeful defending. With no match this weekend, he had given them Tuesday off – and he stood by that call so they could “think about what we’ve done”.

He said: “They decided as a group to come in that night as they wanted to fix some of the wrongs.

“They had the opportunity to have the night off so it’s credit to them for doing that.

“They’re a great bunch of fellas and I really hope we can get something out of this season. They’ve worked hard all year and it would be a great shame if that’s wasted.”

Meanwhile, the Knights Under-18s host Hunslet tonight (7.30pm).

Ash Winstanley returns as the reserves do not play this week.

Entry, via main reception and Bar 13, is £3 for adults and £1 for U16s.

Knights U18s: Tomlinson, Baxter, Pooley, Winstanley, G Smith, Hannigan, Brewer, Hutchinson, I Smith, Fitzsimmons, Law, Scales, Layton, Cashmore, Johnson, Townend, Colrein, Raywood.