Familiar face at York in Jake Butler-Fleming in line for Cup appearance

York City Knights have bolstered their hopes of causing a Ladbrokes Challenge Cup upset against Catalans Dragons by signing Jake Butler-Fleming for the third time in ten months.
Jake Butler-Fleming, in action against Hunslet. Picture: York City Knights.Jake Butler-Fleming, in action against Hunslet. Picture: York City Knights.
Jake Butler-Fleming, in action against Hunslet. Picture: York City Knights.

The much-travelled Australian centre has now had four different clubs in that short time.

Currently he has re-joined York from Toronto Wolfpack on loan until the end of the season with no recall option.

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But Butler-Fleming has recently featured with League 1 rivals Bradford Bulls having originally moved to the UK with Hull KR last year.

He scored five tries in nine games for the Robins before joining League 1 York ahead of the Super 8s split.

He then moved to Knights on a permanent basis in December only for ambitious Championship side Toronto to buy the 26-year-old for an undisclosed fee in February before the new campaign had even kicked off.

York, joint-top of League 1 having won five of their opening six games, host Super League Catalans in the Challenge Cup fifth round at Bootham Crescent on Sunday.

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With the French club slumped at the bottom of the table and embarrassed 41-0 at Castleford on Sunday, James Ford’s side may fancy their chances of springing a surprise.

Butler-Fleming comes straight into contention and head coach Ford said: “Jake’s a good player, a centre potentially of Super League calibre. I really enjoyed the time I had coaching him last year and earlier this year. When he left, he left on good terms.”

He added: “It is a huge testament to the training and culture we provide at the Knights that Jake was so keen to return to us.”

Huddersfield stand-off Lee Gaskell and Salford prop Lee Mossop will face no further action over grade A offences arising from their game at the John Smith’s Stadium.

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Hull forwards Danny Washbrook and Masi Matongo received cautions for dangerous tackles in their win at Widnes.

St Helens centre Mark Percival, sin-binned for disputing a touchjudge’s decision during defeat at Wakefield, has been handed a one-match penalty notice for a grade A offence.