York City Knights have completed the signing of Warrington Wolves halfback Riley Dean on a season-long loan.
The 19-year-old will link up with James Ford's side after the Knights suffered a cruel injury blow in the shape Morgan Smith, who is set to miss the season after suffering an ACL injury.
Smith joined the club from London Broncos as one of the club's major off-season signings, but will now miss the campaign.
Dean made his Warrington debut last year and scored an individual try in the club's narrow defeat to Salford Red Devils.
The move will provide him regular first-team action and he said: “I’m really excited about joining the club and buzzing to be able to get the chance to apply myself in a new environment. Hopefully, I can bring something new to the team.
“Going out on loan was something I’d been thinking about and it was more making the right move for me, and York is a great option with a good squad and coaching staff behind it.
“I’m hoping to be able to show a good version of myself and enhance the team if I’m given the opportunity to hopefully get some game time under my belt.”
Knights head coach James Ford added: “Riley has shown plenty of promise as a young half at Warrington, origin academies and with England Academy. He has a good skill set, a strong running game and I’m looking forwards to working with him."
On Smith’s injury, Ford added: “It’s a really disappointing and frustrating thing to pick up a season-ending injury, especially in a training accident.
"Morgan has a great support network around him and, coupled with the club’s support and his drive to succeed, I’m still very confident that Morgan can fulfil his ambitions in the game. Being injured is never nice, but it’s part of being a professional athlete.
"Morgan has a great opportunity to demonstrate how resilient he is with how he engages with his rehab and strives to help the team succeed.”
York are among the favourites in the Championship this year after signing the likes of Adam Cuthbertson, Ryan Atkins and Ben Jones-Bishop.
