Tigers’ Davies has point to prove after Scorpions exile

While not yet of the calibre of those two Hull FC front-rows, aspiring Ben Davies did at least think he had established himself as a genuine Super League forward after playing 24 games for Widnes Vikings last season.

A player who had previously been tutored under some of the finest coaching at Wigan, and still aged only 23, he had certainly begun to find his feet in arguably the game’s harshest position.

But just as swiftly things turned sour. Davies found himself on the outside looking in this year when he was limited to just one brief substitute appearance for the Super League strugglers before suffering the ignominy of being loaned out to Championship One part-timers South Wales Scorpions.

Understandably perplexed, it was no surprise when he secured a release from his Widnes contract last week and quickly signed up until the end of the campaign with Castleford Tigers, a club where he had enjoyed a successful loan from Wigan in 2011.

Davies makes his ‘second’ debut tonight against visiting Hull, insisting he is still at a loss as to why former coach Denis Betts let him rot.

“I didn’t really get any answers,” he said. “We didn’t have the best relationship and I didn’t get much of a reason.

“After a while I just stopped asking so I don’t really know why.

“It was just one of those in-house problems. We either weren’t getting along or he saw people in my position who he thought could do a better job, I honestly don’t know.

“Obviously every rugby player wants to play especially as I played every game last year so to not be in the squad at all this year has just been weird.

“It has really frustrated me but I’m here now at Cas to prove him and a lot of people wrong; that’s the only motivation I’ll ever need and I’m out to make up for lost time.”

A lot of that ‘lost time’ was spent trekking up and down the M6.

Too old for Widnes Under-19s, Davies found himself in the unusual position of playing for the expansion club South Wales.

It is easy to understand what must have been going through his mind as he appeared in front of just 122 spectators while losing at Hemel Hempstead Stags.

“That’s something I just couldn’t get my head around doing,” he explained.

“Don’t get me wrong; when I went the boys were really good and the coach, too, but it was like a three-and-a-half hour journey on my own (to Neath) to play a standard I believe I’m a bit above.

“It was just hard to get motivated and it was a difficult time.

“I’m excited to be back at Cas. I’ve got nothing but good memories from last time.

“I played five Super League games and two Challenge Cup matches where we had a really good run.

“The fans were so passionate while the boys were really sound with me too.

“Though it’s a different coach now, Daryl (Powell) is a top man and it’s great to be here again especially with who we’re playing on Friday night.”

Davies will come straight in against a Hull side who, up until a hefty loss in France, had been a form team in Super League.

He is out to make an immediate impact and, when asked what he hopes to achieve, Davies said: “A new contract more than anything. I spoke to Cas and then didn’t speak to any more clubs as I knew I wanted to come here.

“The deal was play with a view of staying on but that’s if I prove myself. That’s what I aim to do.”

Davies cites Wigan coach Shaun Wane as a major influence but does not go as far as comparing himself to the fiery former Great Britain front-row.

“He might be a bit too intense for me,” he smiled.

“I wouldn’t be the player I am now if it wasn’t for Wigan especially Shaun Wane who was the Academy coach at the time.

“With him as a 16 year-old it was more out of fear than anything; I didn’t want to let him down. I owe him a great deal.

“That sort of thing pushes you on to do your best and thankfully I got a few games in at Wigan.”

He is still in the car, though, for the time being at least.

“The last time I was here there was four or five coming from Lancashire but now there’s no one,” he explained.

“It’s pretty tough getting up at 5.30 every morning. I thought I’d try and convince Jamie Ellis to move back over so I could travel with him but he’s not having it.”

Meanwhile, Powell has confirmed utility player Jordan Thompson – rumoured to be moving to tonight’s opponents next season – has turned down Castleford’s offer of a new deal.