But whilst he knows the Knights are nowhere near the finished article yet, there have been plenty of encouraging signs in their opening three matches, which saw them beat a youthful KR side 26-12 in Amsterdam and thrash Keighley Cougars 72-12 before falling to a 44-2 defeat against a near full-strength Robins.
Levi Edwards is like a new signing after making his return from an ACL injury, Jesse Dee is back with a bang in the second row, Paul McShane oozes class at hooker, and both Oli Field and Conor Fitzsimmons are staking their claims for a starting shirt after a difficult end to 2024.
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One thing is for sure, like boss Mark Applegarth, Harris cannot not fault his side’s efforts so far.
Speaking after their defeat to KR, he reflected: “I think there were moments throughout the game where we were really going toe to toe with them, and let’s be honest, they’re an absolute classy outfit littered with internationals and world class players.
“I really wouldn’t be surprised if they won silverware this year.
“I’m really, really proud of our boys and the way they held strong. The scoreline did blow out in the end, and the last 20 minutes was really tough for our middles, but these boys have been on site until four o’clock today, and so I’m really proud of their efforts and it builds well for the season.
“Some lads were on site at four o’clock today and taking their stuff with them for the game. I’m sure their lads weren’t doing that.
“When we started to tire and the ruck got a little bit quick, I think we still did a fair job. I think it was just the penalties and the errors that cost us mainly. We just couldn’t seem to defend them once we gave them away.
“That’s something we’ll work on, but it was always going to get quick, and the boys were going to tire.
“I’m just overall really proud of their efforts.”
Will Dagger’s penalty put the Knights in front early on, but KR came back to win well. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) It was York who struck first through a Will Dagger penalty, but the Robins soon found their gear.
Man of Steel Mikey Lewis put the visitors in front midway through the opening half, before debutant Rhyse Martin and Peta Hiku got in on the act in a devastating 10-minute spell to hand them a 16-2 half-time lead.
With the Knights tiring in the second half, and hooker Jez Litten injecting a new life into KR off the bench, second half tries from Tom Davies, Niall Evalds, Lewis, Martin and substitute Kelepi Tanginoa completed the rout.
Applegarth’s side though did have their chances, with Field inches away from crossing the whitewash on the stroke of half time, before five Robins defenders got across to deny Joe Brown what seemed a certain try out wide in the game’s dying seconds.
“They’re one of the best defensive teams in Super League for a reason,” admitted Hull native Harris, who made one appearance for the Robins in 2017.
“They work so hard, and even when you think you’ve got them, like we did at the end, they’re working round the back as well.
“That’s testament to them – Fieldy should have scored that one though!”
Harris knows there’s still room for improvement but is confident his teammates will have “a real good dig” at a wide-open division in which they are expected to challenge at the top of the table again this year.
“That was our second competitive game, so I’m not surprised that we’re not all singing and dancing yet – I’d be worried if we were!
“My main priority this year is the Championship – tell me a Championship team that’s won the Challenge Cup, I don’t think that happens very often, does it?
“Now that is out of the way and put to bed, we can focus fully on the Championship and having a real good dig this year. It’s a very special group full of very special people and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
