York City Knights head coach Gary Thornton has hit out at Hull FC and criticised the attitude of some players after the two clubs ended their dual-registration partnership.
The clubs have severed their dual-registration partnership less than nine months into a three-year deal.
Thornton has criticised the attitude of some of the Hull players who came in, with former FC stand-off Danny Nicklas the source of much criticism. Thornton has also hinted at broken promises made by the Black and Whites with regard to the quality of players available.
The Knights gave the required six months' notice to Hull informing them that they wished to end the agreement, with the Black and Whites understood to now be discussing a new partnership with Doncaster and their new coach, ex-Hull player Paul Cooke.
"I was not happy with the attitude of some who came. Their heart was not in it and it meant, after some of the things they did, I was not going to pick them again." Thornton told the York Evening Press.
The likes of Joe Arundel, Liam Kent, Jack Briscoe and Dean Hadley played for York this year as part of the dual-registration deal which also included an agreement to play a pre-season friendly each year.
"I was very disappointed in it," said Thornton. "I don't think it did us any favours apart from two players in Jack Briscoe and Dean Hadley. Jack in particular was excellent and I was sorry when he got injured. But I was not happy with the attitude of some who came. Their heart was not in it and it meant, after some of the things they did, I was not going to pick them again.
"I was disappointed over Easter when Hull offered us no players - something they did not mention at the outset. We needed them up at Barrow (a defeat on Easter Monday) as it was a big ask for our young guys to back up after we beat Featherstone (on Good Friday).
"The other disappointing thing is the list of quality players we were told would be made available did not materialise. And the whole Danny Nicklas affair was a joke."
And after allegations surfaced saying Nicklas refused to play for York, following 10 appearances for the Knights, he took to Twitter to furiously deny it.
"Did I really refuse to play? I think it was more like I walked out of Hull FC then I didn't want to sign for York as I had something else lined up," said Nicklas. "Making me out to be someone that doesn't want to play the game and making me look a ****. I think the dual reg is a joke and it should have never come into the game! And I think a lot of players will agree with me on that."
Nicklas left Hull mid-season and was initially going to sign for York before Hull KR offered him a Super League lifeline with a trial deal at Craven Park.
