Harris plots Hull KR ambush on York Super League debut

York Knights captain Liam Harris is backing the Super League debutants to make the biggest possible impact by beating reigning champions Hull KR.

The Knights captain, who leads his side into their Super League era at the LNER Community Stadium on Thursday (20:00 GMT), believes facing the Robins in the opening game of the new season gives them the best chance of an upset.

"We have got them round one and we believe there is a real opportunity to go out there and put our best foot forward and get the result," Harris told BBC Radio York.

"They are a very good team and it was great to see them do so well last year but that's put aside. We are going to fire into them on Thursday night and see what we can do.

"If we sit here and focus on Hull KR too much and rave on about how great they are, they will beat us quite comfortably.

"So we are going out there to get the win on Thursday – it's as simple as that."

The Knights help kick off the newly expanded Super League, which has lost Salford Red Devils since last season but gained three new sides in York, Bradford Bulls and Toulouse Olympique.

York only learned they would be moving up into the top flight in October, meaning they have had to transform from a part-time to a full-time set up in a matter of months.

And Harris insisted his side must ignore the "outside noise" as they head into the new campaign with little expectation from those outside the club.

"It's for other people to either write us off or back us," he said.

"That is their opinion and, with all due respect, we won't listen to good or bad. All we care about is our opinion of ourselves and our coaches' opinions of us.

"So we will keep the outside noise outside and focus on what we need as a group."

Knights' coach Mark Applegarth, who has been at the club since June 2024, is another relishing the prospect of going head-to-head with established Super League coaches, including Hull KR's Willie Peters, Warrington's Sam Burgess, Matt Peet of Wigan and Leigh's Adrian Lam.

"That is what is exciting and what drives you," said Applegarth, who previously had a spell as a Super League head coach with Wakefield in 2023.

"If you didn't feel that you belong you are probably not in the right job. I feel like I belong there and I can do some damage there as a coach.

"That is the beauty of life that you dare to dream and I firmly believe that I belong there. I have that burning desire to improve and I really can't wait."