FORMER Super League star Richard Whiting refused to tell tales on James Ford ahead of their reunion on Sunday – instead praising his old team-mate as the key man behind York City Knights' rise into the promotion reckoning.

Veteran Whiting, who played 12 seasons at Hull FC, and in all positions too, comes to Bootham Crescent this weekend as part of the ground-breaking Toronto Wolfpack team who have swept all before them in Kingstone Press League One.

He originally graduated, though, alongside Ford from Featherstone’s old academy into their first team back in 2001-2003. And with his home still in nearby Pontefract, he is still good mates with York’s boss – and, at a press conference ahead of the game, joked he had few stories he could share of years past.

“He was my winger all the way through the academy and reserves into the first team at Featherstone,” said Whiting, who played half-back in those days.

“I could tell you a lot of stories about him but I won’t,” he smiled. “We’re still mates. I don’t want to hammer him!

“What I will say is he’s very motivated and dedicated. And he was quick – which I don’t like to admit. I knew if I created space then nine out of 10 times he would finish it.”

Asked if he expected his old pal to have turned into a head coach, the England international smiled: “Maybe not back then - but as he’s grown up he’s got more sensible.

“He’s matured into a very knowledgeable rugby league person. To be fair, he’s always had the knowledge but, given his job as well (a tutor at Wakefield College), he’s able to get his ideas across well.

“Where the York club is now, especially after the troubles they had, is testament to the ideas and input he has.”

Whiting, meanwhile, believes the Knights could pose a threat to Toronto’s 100 per cent record when the teams kick off the Super 8s section of the campaign this weekend in front of an expected bumper Bootham Crescent crowd – although he couldn’t help but feel confident his star-studded team would prevail as they seek quick elevation to the Championship and then Super League.

The mega-rich Wolfpack are the only full-time team in League One, having become the first – and a controversial – transatlantic rugby club. They beat the Knights 64-22 in the regular season four weeks ago, blowing them away with 10 tries in 27 minutes either side of half-time. No other team have put more points past them in the league, though.

“You just have to look at league positions to see York are one of the better sides in the competition,” reasoned Whiting, who played in the back row that day.

“We prepared for that when they came to Toronto. A couple of players also didn’t come over and they’ve made some big signings, so we’re preparing this week to play against a better York side than we did last time.”

Asked about dangermen, he said: “Our coach highlighted their two back-rowers (Ed Smith and Joe Batchelor) and how they’ve been playing. The hookers are lively around the ruck. We have to be wary of a lot of things.

“It would be remiss of me not to mention the winger, Dee Foggin-Johnston, who scored a hat-trick at our place. He showed if he gets a sniff he will finish it."

He added of the Super 8s: “The main difference is the intensity will go up.

“But we’ve tried to focus on ourselves as much as anything. We’ve set standards we want to play at and the challenge for us is to hit those standards week in week out and also through the 80 minutes each week.”

Asked if being the only full-time team in the league brought confidence or pressure, he said: “I suppose it brings both.

“Whoever we’ve played has raised their game. We know we have to prepare properly.

“But being a professional sportsman you thrive on that pressure as well, and it brings confidence knowing you’re the full-time player.”

Toronto are widely expected to walk this tier. But Whiting said: “I think it would be arrogant to say we ‘expect’ it. You have to earn everything.

“It’s part of the process of why the club started in League One. We have to earn the right to play in the Championship and Super League.

“We can’t say we expect to just turn up and win. If you do that, you will suffer.”

Asked if they are seeking to go through the entire season with a 100 per cent record in the league, Whiting said: “Our talk really is about attaining the standards we set ourselves and hitting those standards consistently. If we do that, the results will take care of themselves.”