Four-try Jy Hitchcox no complaints about Castleford Tigers' decision to let him go

The Australian winger scored four tries in Sunday’s dramatic 24-24 draw against Hull KR as he continues to prove an able deputy for the injury-ravaged Greg Eden.

That took him to 10 in eight games for the West Yorkshire club this term but head coach Daryl Powell confirmed afterwards that he would not be with them in 2019.

Hitchcox, who is reportedly heading for Bradford Bulls, said: “I am out of contract at the end of the year.

“Obviously it’s contract time and I’m discussing a things with a few people and hopefully I’ll land myself somewhere.

“I’m confident of getting another club. Obviously I’d love to stay at Cas.

“I’ve felt like this is my home - it is my home - so I’d love to stay here but if Cas have other plans that’s up to them and that’s fine.”

A former Australia Schoolboys international, Hitchcox originally arrived in the UK at Featherstone Rovers in 2015, impressing enough at the Championship club to earn a step up at neighbouring Castleford the following season.

He scored seven tries in nine games for Tigers in 2016 before adding another three in 10 appearances last term, coming into the Grand Final team after Zak Hardaker’s well-documented suspension.

Hitchcox, 28, crossed twice in three games on loan at League 1 Bradford earlier this year and is highly-rated by coach John Kear who is intent on getting them into the Championship.

But with Eden and James Clare currently injured, he has been flying for Castleford of late, playing in each of their last six matches and scoring eight tries in that sequence alone.

“I spoke to Powelly and said I’m growing in confidence and getting more games so hopefully it can continue,” he said.

“I’m a bit of a confidence player so I told him the more games he gives me hopefully the better I get and I’m trying to prove right at the moment.

“I probably should have had another try as well against KR; one bounced off my knee when I just had to catch and score.

“The feeling around the dressing room is we sort of lost and I guess you could take that as a positive.

“With so many bodies - especially in key departments - that we have missing for everyone to feel like that was a loss and still come away with point is a positive.

“It sort of just lets you know the standard that we do have behind closed doors that we’re striving to win and wanted those two points not just the one.”

Last season’s League Leaders’ Shield winners were 24-12 ahead going into the last 10 minutes having initially outplayed their opponents but tired late on after losing four players to injuries.

They remain in fourth spot but just three points behind second-placed Wigan Warriors who they host in a rearranged fixture on Friday night.

“It is another massive game,” insisted Hitchcox, with Wigan without their trio of England players Sean O’Loughlin, George Williams and John Bateman.

“It’s like the Warrington game the week before.

“They’ll have some bodies missing, we’re going to have some bodies missing and we’re right in and around the same place in the table.

“Every game from now on is massive to keep continuing to where we want to be at the end of the year.”