York Knights have completed the signing of hooker Thomas Doyle from Wakefield Trinity, with the move coming just days before Super League’s transfer deadline.
The 27-year-old has become available to York after leaving Wakefield by mutual consent earlier this week, bringing an end to his three-year spell with Trinity.
Doyle joined Wakefield ahead of the 2024 Championship campaign following the club’s relegation from Super League, arriving from Keighley Cougars. He played a prominent role in securing their return to the top flight and subsequently featured for the club last year, only for a serious injury to derail his current campaign.
But he made a return to action last month and subsequently made a short-term switch to former club Bradford Bulls amid an injury crisis at Odsal.
He was off-contract at the end of the season and now a move to York gives Doyle an opportunity to secure more regular game time in Super League.
A product of the Bulls’ Academy system, he made 57 appearances for Bradford between 2019 and 2022, scoring 16 tries, before moving to Keighley. His performances at Keighley earned him a move to Wakefield.
The Knights will hope Doyle can quickly settle into their system and provide competition and depth around the middle of the field, with his ability to play at hooker offering another option for the club. They are expected to lose Denive Balmforth at the end of his loan spell from Hull FC, with Doyle providing another option moving forward.
The deal has also been done ahead of next week’s transfer deadline, after which clubs are not allowed to make signings for the current campaign.
York are currently enjoying their first season in the top flight and are tenth in Super League, with seven wins from 23 games. They lost 30-10 to Warrington Wolves on Thursday night.
The likes of Paul McShane and Tom Inman are their other current hooker options, alongside the aforementioned Balmforth.