Ferres made the short trip from Belle Vue to the Jungle 13 days ago, after being released from his Wildcats contract "by mutual agreement".

The pacy back-rower arrived at Wakefield with big expectations on his shoulders following his move from Bradford Bulls at the start of the 2007 campaign, as part of the deal which took David Solomona the other way.

But after a promising first season the injury jinx struck and he spent most of 2008 watching from the sidelines. Wakefield seemed willing to part with him mid-way through the year, when he was linked with Hull KR as part of a proposed swap which would have seen Paul Cooke move to West Yorkshire.

Though that fell through, Castleford were quick to step in when it became clear Wakefield were willing to allow him to leave and as far as Ferres is concerned, he has fallen on his feet. Reflecting on his first few days as a Tiger, Ferres said: "I am settling in really well. It feels like I have come home.

"I spent a bit of time at Castleford when I was 14, on the scholarship, so it is great to be back. I left to go to Bradford on their scholarship, which was a good opportunity for me, but I am a Cas lad and I have always wanted to play for them.

"I think everybody wants to play for their hometown club, whether you are from Leeds, Bradford, Castleford or wherever. I grew up in the area, I've seen lads running about at the Jungle and I want to have a taste of things like that."

Ferres – now almost fully recovered from shoulder surgery – admitted he never found his best form in his two years as a Wildcat. He said: "Things didn't go the way I wanted to or the club wanted to, but I left on good terms and I have got an opportunity at Castleford to put things right. I think the Wakefield fans saw glimpses of me, but obviously I wanted to play better. I didn't get good luck with injuries, I think I only played 12 games last season. I played 30 the year before, so I want to get back to that.

"I have been in training just over a week, it has been tough and I am feeling a bit sore, but everything's going well. I am getting a lot fitter and stronger and hopefully next year I can start performing and show everyone what I can do."

A former pupil of the famed rugby league academy that is Castleford High School, Ferres played junior rugby for Smawthorne Panthers before moving into the professional game. A Tigers fan as a youngster – when his heroes included Adrian Vowles and Dale Fritz – he played at school alongside his new Castleford team-mate Craig Huby and was in the same Panthers side as another of Cas' great young hopes, Michael Shenton.

Based on league form last year – Tigers finished bottom of engage Super League, while Wakefield were eighth and reached the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-finals – Ferres has taken a step down, but he obviously doesn't see it that way.

"I've no concerns," he insisted. "Castleford have been building for a few years.