Castleford’s recruit Ellis out to make an impact

The scrum-half, who started the season at Hull FC following his move from Championship Leigh, was not due to join until 2013.

However, the Airlie Birds released him from his contract with immediate effect earlier this week enabling him to link up with the West Yorkshire club sooner than expected.

Ellis, 25, trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Thursday and is now expected to start for the Tigers.

After failing to secure a regular place in the Hull squad, he is keen to quickly prove he is a Super League quality player.

With Man of Steel Rangi Chase still suspended while Castleford investigate an alleged disciplinary breach, and Australian Ryan McGoldrick having left this week, Ellis gets a swift opportunity to show his playmaking ability.

He knows Tigers coach Ian Millward well from his time with him at Leigh and admitted: “I’m just looking forward to getting started. I can’t wait to play on Sunday. When I found out I had the opportunity to come early it is fair to say I was buzzing.

“It’ll be good to play under ‘Basil’ again. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I learned a lot from him at Leigh last year.

“His man-management is very good. It is going to be tough, coming in at this stage of the season with not as much game time as I’d have liked under my belt.

“But it’s a good opportunity to make an early claim for a start next season and I’m going to give it my best shot.”

Strained Castleford, who endured a new low when they were humbled 40-10 at bottom-placed Widnes on Monday night, also welcome back full-back Richard Owen from a one-game ban.

Experienced hooker Ryan Hudson is recalled for the first time since May and faces one of his former clubs but prop Jonathan Walker is out for the campaign after breaking his hand at Widnes.

Brett Ferres also picked up a hamstring injury in the same game causing more problems for Millward’s 12th-placed team.