FORMER Betfred Super League young player of the year Ben Crooks insists there are no ’ill feelings’ between him and Castleford.

But you suspect Crooks desperately wants to put one over his parent club at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle tomorrow, Friday.

The 23-year-old centre is on a season-long loan with the Centurions but there are no restrictions on him featuring against the Tigers.

“There are no ill feelings with me and Cas about the move,” reiterated Crooks.

“It is just going to be an exciting time going back and hopefully I can show what they are missing.”

Crooks featured in 28 games for Daryl Powell’s men last season, scoring six tries and booting a solitary goal.

“I felt I played the best I could while I was there,” he said.

“It didn’t help with all the injuries we had as a side. I played alongside four or five different halves and four or five different wingers, all in one season.

“It was disruptive but I still played 28 times and only missed three games through injury.

“As much as I felt I had a lot more to give and offer, I don’t think I had the chance to do it, so there are no regrets with how I played last year.”

Should Leigh’s coaching staff need any inside information on Cas they can always turn to Crooks and Ryan Hampshire.

“Any inside knowledge I can pass on I will do,” he said.

“It always helps playing against a team you have just come from.

“The structures and the plays won’t change too much.”

Crooks will also call upon some local information of his own to help him scale the heights of four years ago when he was voted into Super League’s Dream Team.

Centurions’ attacking coach Paul Cooke had Crooks under his wing during the youngster’s brief loan spell at Doncaster.

“He is a good bloke,” said Crooks.

“He was a great half when he played and he still has those brains as a coach.

“That is feeding down to us and I think we are going to be a very dangerous side with him leading the attack.

“He sees stuff some people can’t and and sees where players can improve.

“He comes up with the plays and gets us to execute them.

“He will be fine-tuning all year and we are going to play some exciting rugby. “ Crooks admits he has not kicked on as much as expected when he took the game by storm four years ago.

“I have no illusions, I have plenty to work on and plenty of growing to do,” he said.

“There is more I can add to my game, but I think I have plenty of skill and feel confident in my ability to achieve the heights I did in the past.”

Cas have enjoyed an excellent pre-season, losing only one game and proving there is life without try machine Denny Solomona.

“Don’t get me wrong, Denny was a great player, but I don’t think they will miss him too much,” said Crooks.

“They have got plenty of potential to fill that spot.

“Denny finished off a lot of tries, but you can flip it and you have Greg Eden, who is a maverick himself and can come up with some outstanding plays.

“Greg Minikin takes the number two shirt and showed what he can do. He has a lot of skill and a lot of pace.

“As for Leigh, I think we are going to shock a few people. We have made some really good signings.

“Look at Glenn Stewart – he has done everything in the game and you don’t attract those sort of people if you have not got a plan in place.

“Micky Higham, Harrison Hansen and Gareth Hock are all experienced Super League players.

“Then you have a few lads who have been through the system in the Championship. They will want to snap up this chance.”

So too does Crooks.

“The boys here were really welcoming when I first came down,” he said.

“It was an easy choice in the end coming here. Leigh worked hard to get me to start with.

“But once I sat down with Neil (Jukes) and listened to what he was aspiring to do – his targets and goals – it was an easy decision.

“It is going to be a good year.

“Leigh are renowned for throwing the ball about and playing a bit of flash rugby. That is the type of team I want to be in.”