Switch to Tigers too good to turn down, says Watts

CASTLEFORD TIGERS yesterday confirmed the signing of Hull FC prop Liam Watts.

The Airlie Birds announced shortly before lunchtime yesterday that the 27-year-old had left the club with a move to another Super League club having been agreed.

Moments later Castleford confirmed the front rower had joined his hometown club in a three-year deal.

The 27-year-old started his career with Hull KR before moving across to the Black and Whites in 2012, where he went on to win back-to-back Ladbrokes Challenge Cup trophies.

Castleford director of rugby Jon Wells said the club had brought in a player entering the prime of his career.

“Liam is an experienced, top line, hard-nosed forward who we feel will be an outstanding addition to an exceptional and motivated group of players,” said Wells. “At 27 Liam is entering the prime years of his career and we are delighted that he will be spending those years at Castleford.”

Hull are understood to have lost patience with Watts, who has been sent off four times in less than a year.

He is currently serving a threegame ban after being red-carded for butting Warrington Wolves’ Dom Crosby in a Betfred Super League fixture 12 days ago. Hull’s coach Lee Radford was clearly unhappy with Watts after that game, describing the incident as “pathetic” and the East Yorkshire side have now decided they can manage without him.

Radford said: “I wish Liam all the best moving forward and hope he can find some consistency off the field to benefit his career in the future.

“We have some great, young, enthusiastic front rowers coming through at the club who appreciate our values and behaviours and they will benefit from more game time.”

Watts said he was looking forward to playing for the club he supported as a youngster.

“It’s a move I couldn’t let pass me by,” said Watts. “If there was one team in the league that was going to suit my style of play then it’s definitely Castleford.”

On a busy day at Hull, prop Masimbaashe Matongo signed a three-year contract extension, while centre Carlos Tuimavave agreed a two-year extension.