Matt Cook to leave Castleford Tigers for Widnes Vikings at the end of 2020 campaign

The 33-year-old has spent the last six seasons at Wheldon Road, helping the club win the League Leaders' Shield and reach the Super League Grand Final in 2017.

Cook previously played for Castleford on loan from Bradford Bulls in 2008 before joining permanently from London Broncos in 2015.

He has made 112 appearances for the Tigers, scoring 13 tries and admits he will be sad to leave the club at the conclusion of the campaign.

“It was a big decision to join Widnes for next year and I’ll be sad to leave after six years with Castleford," said Cook.

“Until my contract finishes at Cas, I am 100 per cent a Castleford player until the end of the season and I will be doing everything I possibly can to contribute and have a massive impact for the team and ideally leave Super League with a Grand Final winner’s medal.

“It’s a great club that I love, and I’ll always have fond memories.”

Head coach Daryl Powell hailed Cook as a "great servant" to the Tigers, adding: "Matt Cook has been a great servant to our great club, his sense of humour and constant enthusiasm has been a pleasure to see during his time at Cas.

“I think we have seen the best of him as a player and want to wish Cooky all the best next season, but before that we want him to get back on to the field and show us all what a quality player he is.”

Castleford Tigers director of rugby Jon Wells also hailed Cook's contributions at Castleford, adding: “Matt will end a six-year period at the Tigers at the culmination of the 2020 season, six seasons that have seen him make a huge contribution to our on-field progress.

“Matt is a genuine professional, a great character and most importantly a good bloke.

"He has been a huge asset for us since he joined in 2015 and we wish him all the very best in the next stage of his career, but not before he makes a final and typically honest and high-quality contribution in our push for silverware this year.”

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