I could have stayed at Wakefield Trinity but York City Knights is a new challenge says Ben Jones-Bishop

The former Leeds Rhinos Grand Final winner brought his five-year spell with Trinity to an end in January when he signed for Betfred Championship side York.

He has joined ex-Wakefield teammates Ryan Atkins and Danny Kirmond at the North Yorkshire club, whose new signings also include former Rhinos forward Adam Cuthbertson.

Jones-Bishop, 32, scored three tries in eight games for Wakefield last year, after recovering from a blood clot on his lungs which kept him sidelined until after the coronavirus shutdown.

The winger/full-back confirmed he “had some offers” to remain in Super League, but insisted he needed a fresh start.

“I could have stayed at Wakefield, that would have been the easiest thing to do, but given my time off recently I thought a new challenge was needed,” Jones-Bishop said.

“This seems the perfect challenge, it is an ambitious club, great facilities and it looks like everything’s in place.

“It is a good squad so it is a challenge for me and I am looking forward to it.”

York, who will face Leeds Rhinos in an opposed training session this week, will begin the season in a new stadium and have set their sights on promotion to Super League.

Jones-Bishop said: “The first few sessions here, it took me some catching up to get up to the speed we train, but it is really good.

“The facilities are first class, it is well-organised, the standards are high.

“You are prepped before your sessions and the players keep up our standards.

“I know a few from Leeds and Wakefield and we have trained hard, trained well.”

The Leeds-born Jamaica international is keen to pass his experience on to younger players at York.

“I have been doing that for a few years, back at Wakefield,” he said.

“That is nothing new, we do some stuff before and after sessions and I’ve been helping the young boys on some positional things.

“With more experience that becomes part of the game.”