Liam Finn makes switch from Castleford to fierce rivals Wakefield

Finn, 31, has agreed a two-year deal at Belle Vue and returns to the club more than a decade having last played with them briefly in 2004.

The Ireland captain has spent most of his career in the lower divisions but proved a fine acquisition for Castleford when Daryl Powell brought him in from Featherstone Rovers ahead of the 2014 campaign.

Finn, a fine kicker and distributor, adapted to the higher level with ease and was prominent as the Tigers reached the Challenge Cup final and secured their highest-ever Super League finish of fourth.

He has been a regular again this season as Tigers finished fifth but lost his place in the latter stages of the campaign when Samoa’s Benny Roberts was instead paired with Dream Team scrum-half Luke Gale.

After scoring nine tries in 53 games, they have allowed him to move to Trinity where Finn replaces Australian Tim Smith as Brian Smith’s side - having survived relegation after beating Bradford Bulls in the Million Pound Game - strive to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom again in 2016.

“I spoke to (chairman) Michael (Carter), Brian and (assistant coach) Stu Dickens and I really liked what they had to say and what they thought about me,” he said, having been a long-time team-mate of Dickens’ at Featherstone.

“I want to come back and put a few wrongs right from the last time I was here as it didn’t really work out for me when I was younger.

“I’m looking forward to working with an experienced coach like Brian; it will be interesting to see what he does differently to other coaches.

“I’m hoping my role as half-back will add organisation and control into the side and will hopefully get the best out of the team moving forward.”

Finn started out his career with hometown Halifax debuting in 2002 but being part of the side relegated from Super League the following year.

That saw him switch to Wakefield but he only played twice before moving onto a first spell with Featherstone, enjoying some quality seasons at Dewsbury before returning to Post Office Road.

* Former Keighley Cougars centre/back-row Jake Normington has rejoined Hunslet Hawks from East Leeds ARLFC.