VIDEO: Wakefield Trinity move can help Craig Huby rediscover '˜freedom'

The ball-handling prop made his name during more than a decade of first-team action for Castleford Tigers as just that – a front-row who liked to show his creative skills, often with a defence-splitting offload.

However, having made the decision to end his long association with them and join their West Yorkshire rivals, he admitted Huddersfield’s tactics did little to encourage his natural game.

Granted, injuries also blighted his time there as did last season’s slide down the Super League table from a regular top-four place to bottom and a relegation fight in the Qualifiers.

However, despite only being halfway through a four-year contract, Huby told Giants officials during the winter he could not continue in the same vein and, so, a deal was agreed with Trinity.

Now, the 30-year-old is preparing to make his debut, ironically against Castleford in Sunday’s friendly at Belle Vue, and is relishing the chance to resurrect his career under Wakefield head coach Chris Chester.

“I wanted to get back enjoying the game which I’d probably not done for the last couple of years,” he told The Yorkshire Post.

“I’m trying to get back to doing what I do best. A big part of that is trying to enjoy it again – have a laugh and a joke and probably not be too serious.

“I’m really enjoying it here already. Going from Cas and the style of rugby we played there, it was totally different at Huddersfield. I lost my identity a little bit and didn’t have the freedom to do what I did before.

“Chezzy wants to play more my style of rugby. There’s quite a few here who can do that, too; big Dave (Fifita) is a skilful prop and hopefully I can get back to playing how I know I can.”

That said, Pontefract-born Huby maintains he has no regrets about leaving Castleford.

He helped them to the Challenge Cup final in 2014 and they are, of course, a vibrant side themselves, potentially on the cusp of something special while he was also held in such high esteem as a club legend.

“No, never, not once have I thought that,” Huby answered when asked if he regretted the initial move.

“I’m happy with what I did. I left as I needed a new challenge.

“Unfortunately for me it didn’t work out as I wanted it to. This is another new challenge now and I’ve settled in a little bit better here; it probably suits me more being more local to home.

“Hopefully that shows on the field, too. The last 12 months personally and game-wise have not been the best.

“A couple of injuries probably didn’t help and being in rehab’ is not a nice place. At times I was by myself a lot which is probably not the best thing for me.

“But it happens to everyone in their career and I’ve been pretty lucky at times to play almost every game most years. I’ve had a fair share now, though, so hopefully this year I can forget about last season, kick on and show the potential that I’ve had before.”

Plenty of Castleford fans would have liked to see Huby – who was bought on a three-year deal – return to Wheldon Road but he says that was never an option.

“Basically, I just said I was unhappy at Huddersfield without sourcing another club or anything,” he added. “I just wanted a change of atmosphere. I discussed it with family, my mum and dad and my agent, told him what I was feeling and he said do whatever I was comfortable with.

“It was entirely my decision and I stand by that. Hopefully it turns out to be a good one.”

With Wakefield having upset the odds by reaching the top-eight last season, there is a growing belief they can repeat that feat in 2017, especially given some of their player recruitment.

The capture of Australian half-back Sam Williams from Canberra Raiders is a real coup while there are some familiar faces for Huby as former Huddersfield team-mates Kyle Wood and Scott Grix have also made the switch.

Huby, part of England’s training squad in 2014 before hopes of debuting were scuppered by a dislocated elbow, said: “Wakefield showed last year they can do really good things.

“Making the eight was a massive boost for them and it’s meant they’ve been able to bring in some really good players to boost the squad.

“I definitely feel we can do something here; it’s really exciting times and hopefully I can bring something to that.”

And bring some of those smiles back with him, too.