CHRIS Thorman is to quit as head coach of York City Knights at the end of the season to rejoin the Huddersfield Giants as assistant to new boss Paul Anderson, the Championship outfit have announced.

Thorman, 31, who played for the Giants from 2005-08 and captained them in their Challenge Cup final defeat by St Helens at Twickenham in 2006, is in his third season at York.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson said: "While we are disappointed to lose Chris, the opportunity to coach at the Giants is too good to turn down.

"When we signed Chris a position like this was always his longer term aim and it is pleasing that the club has been able to play such a key role in his development.

"We know that he will give us all he can for the remainder of the season and we wish him all the best for the future."

Thorman played for Sheffield Eagles, London Broncos and Parramatta before joining Huddersfield and went on to have a stint at Hull before moving to York, initially as player and assistant coach in 2010.

He starred in the Knight’s 2010 Championship One Grand Final win over Oldham and took over as head coach at the start of this season.

Anderson will step up from the role of assistant when Nathan Brown leaves to take up a three-year contract at St Helens in November.