{"id":485149,"date":"2026-03-20T03:25:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T03:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/485149\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T03:25:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T03:25:10","slug":"york-knights-boss-on-crucial-sin-bin-injury-concern-and-six-agains-after-wigan-warriors-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/485149\/","title":{"rendered":"York Knights boss on crucial sin bin, injury concern and six agains after Wigan Warriors defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"York\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 head coach Mark Applegarth had plenty to say after his side\u2019s narrow 23-22 defeat to Wigan Warriors<\/a> in round five of Super League.<\/p>\n

Despite racing into a 14-0 lead, York were reeled back in with Harry Smith\u2019s opportunist drop goal proving the difference in what was a tough game at the Brick Community Stadium.<\/p>\n

The Knights scored tries through David Nofoaluma, Paul Vaughan and Ata Hingano but it wasn\u2019t quite enough, with head coach Mark Applegarth lamenting the number of six agains that his side conceded in the second half as Wigan got a roll on.<\/p>\n

Speaking post-match on Sky Sports, he gave his assessment: \u201cFirst half we did exactly what we said we were going to do, and I thought that second half, them six against, killed us, didn\u2019t they?<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, I\u2019m just really proud of the effort. It\u2019s come down to moments, and when you\u2019re in big games, in close games, it does come down to moments. We\u2019ve come up with two one-on-one misses, and not sticking to a system, and ultimately that\u2019s all it costs, isn\u2019t it, at this level?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of the effort, proud every week, and I love the spirit in our team, and we\u2019ll never say die, but when you\u2019re playing top teams, and Wigan are a top team, you\u2019ve got to make sure you\u2019re concentrated for that full 80 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hull FC under pressure, Huddersfield Giants in crisis and shock Super League predictions \u2013\u00a0click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Tough\u2019 sin bin proves costly for York Knights<\/p>\n

One crucial moment in the game was Marcus Griffiths\u2019 decision to sin bin Ata Hingano on the half hour mark with the York playmaker sent to the bin for ruck infringement, however, it was perhaps one penalty too many in a short space of time.<\/p>\n

Asked about that, Applegarth said:\u00a0\u201cI felt it was a tough one, and then there was a similar one in the second half, but there\u2019ll probably be a game a bit further on in the year where we come out on the right side of it. Sometimes you\u2019ve just got to take your medicine. It\u2019s a tough enough job as it is in the middle, isn\u2019t it, and I definitely don\u2019t want to make it harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Loanee Sam Cook helped get the Knights back into the game as he broke free and then offloaded to Hingano who scored under the sticks, drawing the score to 23-22 with a few minutes to play but York failed to get a drop goal opportunity as the ball went to ground.<\/p>\n

Asked about Cook\u2019s influence and that crucial error, Applegarth had his say:\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s a top player, is Cook. Obviously, we had him last year as well. We knew exactly what we were going to bring in. I\u2019m really proud of him for his debut. I thought he took the Super League exactly how we thought he would.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing back to your other point, that\u2019s what I mean by concentration and just icing your moments, and congratulations to Wigan. I thought they iced theirs. Sometimes you\u2019ve just got to take your medicine and go again next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Knights also saw star man Paul McShane leave the field with an injury concern with Applegarth confirming the club are worried that the hooker may have fractured his hand.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cWe\u2019re just a bit worried he might have fractured his hand, so we\u2019ll get that x-rayed tonight or tomorrow morning and hopefully get some good news there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was just struggling to pass the ball. Naturally, in the position that he plays, we didn\u2019t want to take any chances with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Full-Time: Wigan Warriors 23-22 York Knights! \ud83d\ude32\ud83e\udd0f pic.twitter.com\/9ZyIxYgGuL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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