![\"York](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CL0I9546-1-1.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
York Knights will take on table-toppers Wigan Warriors this week, and back rower Jesse Dee is preparing to reunite with a former teammate.<\/p>\n
Dee, who is one of many players to make the step up from Championship to Super League with the club, is performing well in the top flight, and has been a consistent part of the Knights\u2019 early season success.<\/p>\n
Making four appearances in both league and cup, the 31-year-old is competing with Oli Field and Josh Griffin for a starting jersey, and so far has been handed a place in the first 13 in each of his four games this season.<\/p>\n
However, Thursday\u2019s game will be by far his toughest test in his Knights career, as he faces the 2024 quadruple winners for the first time as professional.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m heaps excited,\u201d Dee told the media earlier this week.<\/a> \u201cI can\u2019t wait. It should be a good challenge. I\u2019m really excited for it.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026I reckon they\u2019ve probably been the benchmark. They\u2019ve been really good, and started the season on fire.\u00a0They\u2019ve got good players all across the park, so it\u2019s going to be a good challenge for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Dee came through the ranks at St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL, and it was at that time he made friends with a current Warriors star, someone he still keeps in contact with to this day.<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up with Jai Field, so I\u2019m pretty disappointed he\u2019s not playing,\u00a0but I was always looking forward to that.<\/p>\n You always like versing your mate, so it\u2019ll be cool\u2026 [I\u2019m]\u00a0always in touch with him. We\u2019re always keeping in touch. He\u2019s no good for this week, but it\u2019s always good. We keep in touch with each other.<\/p>\n Asked if he saw signs of Field becoming the elite full-back he is today, Dee replied: \u201cYeah, for sure.\u00a0He\u2019s always had that ability and he\u2019s always been a good player.\u00a0Especially when I took him under my wing, I think it just took him to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n York Knights reaping rewards of Newcastle Thunder partnership<\/p>\n York are currently involved in a mutual agreement with Championship side Newcastle, a deal that sees the two sides train together consistently, learn off each other and share players on a week-to-week basis.<\/p>\n The likes of David Nofoaluma and King Vuniyayawa have featured for the Knights this season, whilst Sam Cook (no, not the SARL writer) has made the loan switch to his former club this week.<\/a><\/p>\n Dee, who has featured for both clubs in his career, commented on that parternship and how it is allowing both sides to prosper#<\/p>\n \u201c[There is ] a lot of repetitions. We verse each other a lot, so I think that\u2019s helping both teams.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to see Newcastle back in the comp.\u00a0It\u2019s good for the boys to keep getting more reps in, versing each other, and high-quality reps.\u00a0It\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n
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