Castleford Tigers v Leigh Centurions: Ben Crooks to face parent club
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 10/02/17 8:33pm
Ben Crooks has an early chance to show Castleford fans what they are missing when he faces them in Leigh's first game back in Super League.
The 23-year-old played in all but four of the Tigers' 32 matches in his first season at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in 2016 before finding himself surplus to requirements, and he has now moved on loan to the promoted Centurions.
By a curious twist of fate, Crooks' first competitive game for the Super League new boys is against his old team-mates on Friday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 7.30pm, and he cannot wait.
"I'm allowed to play, I made sure of that before I came," said Crooks, who is under contract with the Tigers to the end of next year but free to play out the whole of 2017 with Leigh.
"It should be good going back. There were no hard feelings when I left.
"People can sulk and moan about it and throw the teddy out of the pram but I'm looking forward to playing my best rugby here at Leigh and there's no better way than starting it off at Cas.
It was disappointing to find out I wasn't part of their plans because I didn't think I did too badly last year.
Ben Crooks on leaving Castleford
"It was disappointing to find out I wasn't part of their plans because I didn't think I did too badly last year - I played 28 games and missed a few through injury - but as one door closes, another one opens and Leigh tried really hard to get me here in the first place.
"That was a little bit of a morale booster for me, that someone wanted me so much."
Crooks is one of 11 new faces brought in by the Centurions, including his former Castleford team-mate Ryan Hampshire, for their first season in the top flight since 2005, when they failed to survive after winning just two matches.
Leigh look better equipped to last the pace this time around and Crooks says that is the minimum requirement.
"It's something I haven't been involved in before," he said. "It's a new challenge and one that I'm really looking forward to. Success this year would be to remain in Super League, no matter how we do it.
"As a group we've spoken about our targets and our goals, we just want to go out and do the best we can. But staying in Super League is the main goal."
After steady and consistent improvement under Daryl Powell, Castleford are expected to push for a top-four spot this year but the coach is expecting a fiery approach from the league's new boys.
"A bit of fire and brimstone, I would have thought," said Powell. "They are not going to go down without a fight in this game.
"The only game tougher than this would have been Leigh away because it's notorious that the team that comes up will have a hell of a lot about them in that first game.
"We've got the benefit that we're at home but we know they will throw everything at us and we've got to be ready for that."
Castleford include new signings Zak Hardaker, Greg Eden, Jesse Sene-Lefao and welcome back skipper Michael Shenton for his first appearance for 12 months. Forwards Oliver Holmes and Larne Patrick are the Tigers' only injury absentees.
Castleford Tigers: Rangi Chase, Matt Cook, Greg Eden, Luke Gale, Zak Hardaker, Andy Lynch, Nathan Massey, Mike McMeeken, Paul McShane, Grant Millington, Adam Milner, Greg Minikin, Joel Monaghan, Junior Moors, Ben Roberts, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Michael Shenton, Gadwin Springer, Jake Webster.
Leigh Centurions: Mitch Brown, Ben Crooks, Matty Dawson, Josh Drinkwater, James Green, Ryan Hampshire, Harrison Hansen, Adam Higson, Gareth Hock, Liam Hood, Ben Reynolds, Cory Paterson, Eloi Pelissier, Martyn Ridyard, Glenn Stewart, Danny Tickle, Willie Tonga, Atelea Vea, Dayne Weston.