Hull FC v Castleford Tigers: Crooks is back on a mission with the Tigers

AS he approaches his first return to Hull FC tonight, Castleford Tigers centre Ben Crooks maintains there is no ill-feeling about the manner of his exit from the East Yorkshire club.
Castleford Tigers' Ben Crooks, right, in pre-season training.Castleford Tigers' Ben Crooks, right, in pre-season training.
Castleford Tigers' Ben Crooks, right, in pre-season training.

Despite claiming Super League’s Young Player of the Year award in 2013 and being named in the Dream Team, he endured a fall from grace the following campaign.

Crooks spent most of that year on dual-registration with Championship Doncaster, playing just a dozen games for the Airlie Birds, and, unwanted by head coach Lee Radford, was eventually allowed to leave for Australia where he spent last year with Parramatta Eels’ reserve side.

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The 22-year-old is back in Super League, though, at home-town Castleford, who head to the KC Stadium for this evening’s televised game unbeaten, having drawn at Hull KR and eviscerated Wakefield Trinity.

“I haven’t been back to the KC since I left,” said Crooks, who scored 32 tries in 49 games after emerging through Hull’s academy system. “There’s no hard feelings between me and the club or players so I’m really excited to go back and get out there.

“It wasn’t ideal the way it ended for me at Hull or nice for me and a lot of other people, but that’s the sport; it’s a business at the end of the day.

“I had a great time in 2013 and everything came right for me, but, unfortunately, you have blips in performance and I lost a lot of confidence the following year.

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“Now I’ve been away, though, I’m really enjoying my rugby again.”

Crooks, who played for FC in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley three years ago, added: “One of the reasons I wanted to come back to Super League is because I know I’m a lot better player than when I finished off playing in 2014.

“To go back to the KC so early and show what I can do – what kind of player I am – is really exciting.

“There’s still a lot of the boys I grew up playing with over there so it’s going to be great to play against my friends rather than with them for a change.”

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There is a firm belief that Crooks can rediscover his best at Castleford and someone who knows only too well the restorative qualities of life at Wheldon Road under Tigers’ head coach Daryl Powell is Hull stand-off Marc Sneyd.

He enjoyed a superb season there in 2014 while on loan from Salford, reaching Wembley and producing the sort of quality that persuaded FC to invest £100,000 for his signature.

Sneyd will look to help maintain Hull’s 100 per cent start to the season and admitted: “I can’t thank Castleford enough for that chance to kick on like I did.

“It was a brilliant year with those lads and the coaches and it allowed me to really improve.

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“We know they’ll be tough; you always expect a real solid attacking performance from Cas as they have threats all over the field. You can’t ever switch off against them.”

Given their promising start –defeating Salford and winning in emphatic style at Perpignan –there is renewed hope 2016 could be the year Hull finally mount a serious title challenge having limped in eighth last time.

Sneyd, who had a mixed debut campaign in 2015, concedes defeating Castleford, seeking a third successive top-five finish, is a genuine test of those credentials.

“There is a good feeling about everything that’s going on at the moment, but it is still early days,” said the 25-year-old, Radford’s big recruits such as Frank Pritchard, Sika Manu and Scott Taylor all starting well.

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“We’re heading in the right direction and this is what we were aiming for throughout the off-season. But we have to win our games at the KC whether it’s against sides as good as Cas or anyone. Our home form there last year was shocking and it has to improve. We’re aiming to win every match there this season.”

Sneyd feels he will improve, too, as the campaign develops, his partnership with former Great Britain half Leon Pryce already showing positive hints.

“Last year was pretty tough for me and it was a bit of a settling-in season,” he added. “I’m looking for more consistency this time.

“Me and Leon looked all right together towards the end of last season before he got injured and we’ve had a good off-season together, too, so, hopefully, things can keep getting better.

“I know I’ve a strong edge to work with, world-class back-rows like Frank Pritchard and Mark Minichiello outside me and great outside backs, too, which, as a half, makes my job so much easier.”