A decent centre on his day,his defence last year was much improved and he never really got much service playing down the right. It's fair to say though he would probably be our 4th choice centre with Shenton,minikin and Webster ahead in the pecking order this coming season.

I see you have posted on the Leeds board that he has been sent on loan to Leigh.ie Ben of course.

That is my understanding that it's a loan deal,but very few players go back to there parent club once sent out on loan

I'm not sure about this. We have Monaghan out of contract next year and Webster can't go on forever, so there would be space on the cap for Crooks to come back in 2018 if he goes well at Leigh.
However, I don't rate him and think his time is up at Cas.

Good deal all around if true, Crooks has been great in defense but attacking wise he's found it hard for us, still a very solid sl centre. Hope it's a loan so we can get hardaker under the cap and get ben back in 2018 when webster has retired but as has been said above he's 4th choice behind Shenny minikin and webster.

He's third choice here behind Tonga and Brown, but will put pressure on them and provide great cover

Seem to remember him having an excellent partnership with Tom Lineham at Hull, three or four years ago. They were scoring tries for fun and Ben was selected for the SL 'Dream Team'.

You remember well Alan, good signing if true and he has great respect for Cookey.
Some holes filled in the back line if this comes off, and imo some great recruitment as we only had a few weeks to offer players a SL career, months after most would have sorted out their employment.
We have a formidable pack with great hookers, 4 halves and some and skill size out wide.
Now let's get behind them and create a club even more players want to come to in 2018

Can't argue with any of that post.

Backline to include McNally, Reynolds, Ridyard, Drinkwater, Hampshire, Brown, Tonga, Crooks, Higson, Dawson, Johnson and Smith so far will give us options and a decent starting set imo

Its now official. 1 year loan deal https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5071

Its now official. 1 year loan deal https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5071

Makes sense. Webster is probably going to retire next season and Crooks can come back to us with more experience.

Looks like a win/win for both clubs. Frees up some cap for Hardaker, gives Minikin more game time and fills a big hole here.

Just like Ryan Hampshire, I believe Ben Crooks has enormous potential, waiting to be developed. If anyone can coax that potential out of them, I believe our coaching team of Jukes, Cooke, Purtill and Anderson can do it. Welcome on board Ben.

Sorry to see Rocky leave us. I think the reason Ben has come to you is the unexpected rapid development of Greg Minikin and Websters decision to go another year. Very handy loan signing for you and obvioosly has Powells blessing so he must rate your coaching staff.

Of course there is always the chance that Ben enjoys his RL so much at Leigh that he tries to make it a permanent move. Should go well under Jukesy & Cooky, not that Daryll doesn't know his onions, been a great coach so far & has built a solid team at Cas.

Salford made a huge move to sign Ben crooks when they realised they had missed out on Thornley a fortnight ago. The fact that he chose Leigh is testament to Paul Cooke's presence at the club.

Given that Cas are happy to release Crooks, I wonder why we didn't accept this "huge" offer and let him move to Leigh for nothing?

Perhaps so that he could feel comfortable teaming up with Ryan Hampshire, Danny Tickle and Ben Reynolds?

Whats Ben got left on his contract at Cas..2 years?

Who?

Sorry, Thompson. Do you know who he is?

Did he play for St Pats?

Probably, Wigan Academy, England Academy, Warrington Reserves last year and 3/4 games on loan at HKR - 100kg wing/centre aged 20/21.

If they can get these youngsters performing in that backline,it could be a very interesting season.