York Knights snap up Thomas Doyle after Wakefield exit

York Knights have signed hooker Thomas Doyle on a deal running through to the end of the 2027 season, less than a week after the 27-year-old left Wakefield Trinity by mutual consent BBC Sport.

Doyle went straight into contention for York's home match against Super League leaders Leeds, with head coach Mark Applegarth throwing his new arrival in at the deep end against the division's pace-setters BBC Sport. The signing was confirmed on York's official club website under the headline "Knights sign Doyle!" York RLFC.

A hooker, for those new to rugby league, is the attacking pivot in the middle of the scrum and the link man around the ruck — the contest for the ball on the ground after a tackle. Doyle fills that role with the kind of toughness Applegarth was quick to highlight.

Applegarth described his new signing as a tough, no-nonsense player who is hungry to improve BBC Sport. That appetite will be tested quickly, with Leeds providing an immediate and unforgiving yardstick.

Doyle's route to York has been anything but smooth. He spent three seasons at Wakefield Trinity, but his 2026 campaign produced just two appearances — both during a loan spell with Bradford Bulls BBC Sport. Wakefield confirmed his departure on 12 August, with the club and player parting ways by mutual consent Wakefield Trinity.

Two days later, York moved to sign him as a free agent with immediate effect, beating the transfer deadline to get the deal done Love Rugby League. The contract commits Doyle to the Knights through the 2027 season — a long-term vote of confidence for a player whose recent opportunities had been scarce.

For Doyle, the switch offers a fresh start after a frustrating stint in West Yorkshire. For York, it adds a player who knows the Championship (rugby league's second tier) and has Super League experience, arriving with something to prove and, if Applegarth's read is right, the hunger to back it up.