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New Castleford Tigers regime gives Hudson a lift
BATTLE AHEAD: Ryan Hudson knows that he will be battling with youngsters Daryl Clark and Adam Milner for the Tigers hooker position this year.
A new regime has given Castleford Tigers’ veteran hooker Ryan Hudson a fresh lease of life.
The 32-year-old, who made his Super League debut for Huddersfield Giants back in 1998, is locked in a three-way fight with youngsters Daryl Clark and Adam Milner to be Tigers’ starting hooker this year.
Clark, 18 and 20-year-old Milner have youth on their side, but Hudson reckons nothing beats experience and he relishes the challenge of proving that there’s life in the old boy yet.
New coach Ian Millward has already confirmed that he will use two hookers for Tigers’ opening fixture at Salford City Reds on February 4, though he admits he hasn’t yet decided who will miss out.
Hudson has lost his No 9 jersey to Clark, but started against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in Tigers’ final trial game two days ago – which Cas lost 40-20 – and he reckons Millward’s arrival at the club has revitalised his career.
“It is only a number,” Hudson said of his drop down the squad order to No 16. “I think it is a reflection of my last two years’ form, but this year I am looking forward to a big year.
“Thing have changed, massively. We have got some stuff in place and Basil (Millward) knows what he wants.
“He has given me a new lease of life and I need a big year, so I am looking forward to it. He plays a lot off 9 (hooker) which is good.
“The last two years I have been stifled because of the way Terry (previous boss Terry Matterson) wanted to play, so I am looking forward to it this year.”
Clark and Milner are both highly rated and Hudson feels he can benefit from having them snapping at his heels.
He said: “Competition is great, but at the end of the day I’ll do my talking on the field. There’s a lot of competition, but hopefully I’ll get picked on merit. I will back myself.”
Hudson has had a long and chequered career, but insisted he is now enjoying himself as much as he has ever done.
“My confident went last year with Terry and how he played,” said Hudson, who is just 10 short of 300 career appearances for Huddersfield, Wakefield and Cas.
“I didn’t enjoy it and his coaching philosophies on certain things. This year with Basil, what he wants and his systems in defence and attack suit me a lot more.
“He plays a lot off 9 which is good for hookers. It is hard to make a difference when you are passing off the floor all the time. You become predictable.
“I am looking forward to it this year. I believe that 9s should get out there and play.
“It is a team game so you should play to the strengths of everyone.”
Cas have made only four permanent signings – Josh Griffin, Steve Nash, Grant Millington and James Grehan – since the end of last year, with Lee Mitchell and Ryan Shaw coming in on loan from Warrington Wolves.
Hudson accepts Tigers have a small squad, but he is confident they can be even more competitive than last year, when they led the table for a spell before dropping out of the play-offs zone on the final weekend.
“We have got a lot of young ones coming through, but it’s all about getting the balance right between youth and experience,” he said.
“This year we have got to start the season strong and we’ve got to finish strong. We have got to get our defence right.
“Basil has put some stuff in place and hopefully that will work for us. Success is about improving.
“As long as we can improve on last year, that’s success to me. Personally, I have just got to focus on my game.
“I am enjoying training, I am feeling the best I have in ages and once we get back playing I will enjoy it more. I am looking forward to it ”
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Australian centre/second-row James Grehan could make his Tigers debut in Sunday’s under-20s trial game at York City Knights after signing a one-year contract.
Grehan has spent time at St George and Parramatta Eels and is the current County player of the year, the highest individual accolade for players in Australia outside the NRL.
He was recommended by former Castleford player Dale Fritz, the strength and conditioning coach at his previous club Western Suburbs.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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