Castleford closing in on deal to sign Leeds's Zak Hardaker

The England international, transfer-listed at £300,000 in June, finished off this season playing with Penrith Panthers in the NRL, but has been looking for a return to Super League.

Castleford are thought to have agreed a deal with the Pontefract-born player and, if a fee is agreed, Hardaker will switch.

Tigers paved the way yesterday by freeing up space on their salary cap, former Hull FC centre Ben Crooks moving to promoted Leigh Centurions on a season-long deal.

Hardaker, 25, won Man of Steel last year, but has endured a series of off-field issues and lost his place in the England squad for the Four Nations.

He worked with Castleford head coach Daryl Powell as a teenager at Featherstone Rovers before earning his move to Leeds where he won three Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge.

Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils were also interested in Hardaker, but Castleford remain his preference.

Crooks, 23, scored six tries in 28 games this year following his own return from Australia where he was on Parramatta Eels’ books.

He is contracted at Castleford for another two seasons, but with the return of captain Michael Shenton after a serious knee injury and emergence of Greg Minikin, may have found game time limited with them in 2017.

Huddersfield prop Eorl Crabtree has announced his retirement at the age of 34.

He played 423 times for his hometown club – his entire career – scoring 79 tries and won 18 caps for England, too.

Crabtree, who had a year left on his contract, joins the Giants’ commercial and marketing team.