RUGBY LEAGUE

JAKE CONNOR says he owes his Hull FC team-mates after being forced to watch their heartbreaking derby defeat because of his own stupidity.

The England international sat out the last-gasp 18-16 loss at Hull KR on Friday after picking up a one-match ban for dissent in a pre-season friendly.

Already missing Albert Kelly with injury, it meant the Black and Whites had to move forward Danny Washbrook to stand-off.

But Connor will return in that role against Castleford tonight as Lee Radford’s men look to end a 12-match losing run.

“It was pretty tough to watch that – I thought we had the game in the bag until the last minute,” he said. “Carlos Tuimavave and Josh Griffin absolutely smashed it on the edges and Masi Matongo was the best forward on the pitch.

“But we needed another try, and to crumble in the last minute like that wasn’t good enough by our own standards.

“I felt I could have made a difference if I was out there, and I can’t wait to play now. I owe the lads something and I want to give them that win.

“It was tough missing out on a derby, and it’s definitely made me realise I need to keep my head and stop doing stupid stuff.”

That starts with a crunch clash against the Tigers in which Connor’s first priority is a Hull win – their last competitive victory was over seven months ago.

“We’ve not mentioned that but anyone who says it doesn’t knock your confidence would be lying,” said Connor. “It always plays at the back of your mind a bit, and hopefully we can get that win to lighten the mood.” ❑CASTLEFORD Tigers have been rocked by a second longterm injury to a key playmaker in Jamie Ellis.

The Tigers were already missing Luke Gale, potentially for the whole season, with an Achilles injury. Now they have been told Ellis is out for up to six months with a knee issue suffered in the warm-up before the pre-season friendly against Featherstone.

Coach Daryl Powell said: “He went to see the specialist and he needs a micro-fracture in his knee. It’s a tough one for him. We’ll look after him and try to get him back as soon as we can.”