He left Super League giants Leeds for a side who are now joint-bottom, but Castleford’s Jack Broadbent has no regrets whatsoever.
The England Knights utility-back, 22, faces his former club on Thursday for the first time since leaving Headingley. Castleford have lost all four games so far and seen boss Lee Radford sacked so they are in urgent need of a win at Wheldon Road. But Broadbent, limited to just 22 matches over three years at Leeds, said: “I feel like I've fitted in well.
“It’s not the start we’d wanted but when we can get over this hump and get our confidence back, I feel we can grow into this season more. Results need to change but I am really enjoying it here. I feel like I just needed a change of scenery to kick-start my regular first-team rugby. Coming to Cas and playing the first four games of the season, shows I’ve done that. I have got a fresh lease of life. It was one of those things.
“Leeds offered me a deal but I just basically chose to sign for Cas. I’d signed with them before Rohan (Smith) arrived so it was all done. I just felt like I needed a change of environment and that, in the position I am, I’d probably have a better chance of gaining first-team experience at Cas more than Leeds.”
Broadbent was on the bench in their opener against Hull but started in his favoured position of centre against St Helens - scoring a try - and Wigan. When England’s Niall Evalds was sidelined for up to six weeks, Broadbent switched to full-back in Thursday’s 36-6 loss at Huddersfield - caretaker coach Andy Last’s first game in charge. He admitted: “It is pretty strange. Obviously, Radders signed me from Leeds so he saw something in me and had the confidence in me.
“Andy Last still had a part in that so it’s the same in some ways. And if a new coach comes in, he’ll have his own thoughts so it will be a fresh start for everyone. We’re pretty open about where I play now. With the utility value I have it’s easy for me to slot in at full-back. I felt a little bit rusty on Thursday just getting back used to it as it’d been a while since I played there. But when Niall went down and they got his scan results, Lasty gave me a call and said to get ready to play there. It’s what’s best for the team as we have centres who can fill in.”
After new head coach Smith arrived at Headingley in May, Broadbent played just one game before joining Championship Featherstone the following month. He spent the rest of the season there on loan while his Rhinos team-mates went on to reach Old Trafford.
Asked if he feels he has a point to prove, he replied: “We’re not even thinking about that. We just need to get our season going. It’s a collective rather than an individual but the main focus is just getting kick-started and a West Yorkshire derby, there’s no better way to do it.
“All the boys will really get up for it. There’s been some cracking games between Cas and Leeds in the past and Cas have been on the better end of a lot of them. There’s a few of us who played for Leeds in the past so if we can get us the win it’ll really give us a kick-start to the season. When people talk about if I have a point to prove, I feel we have a point to prove to each other to get a performance and get a win rather than just being about my old club.”
Broadbent added: “I’m still good mates with a lot of the Leeds players. Sam Walters and those sorts of lads who I came through the Academy with. I obviously spent a lot of time at Leeds - I was there six years - so have fond memories and friends for life so it will be good to play against them for the first time. Harry (Newman) is back, too, and that’ll be an added challenge for us to deal with but one I look forward to.”
Meanwhile, Broadbent is almost certain to carry on at No1 given one of Castleford’s other potential full-backs has retired with immediate effect. Australian Jake Mamo, 28, has struggled with a back injury although the club was surprised by the ex-Huddersfield star’s decision. Last said: “Jake has been suffering with a back injury and due to medical reasons with regards to his body he's made a decision he's going to retire from top-level rugby league.
“That came as a bit of a shock but he's suffered a couple of knocks and a couple of bangs to the head and he couldn't quite shake off this back injury so he's come to that decision. He's got through pre-season okay, picked up a knock in one of the games and struggled to shake it off. He's got some scarring from a mental point of view with regards to some injuries he got earlier in his career and it's impacted how he's feeling moving forward."
It leaves Castleford with a free quota spot as well as space on the salary cap but Last was unsure whether any potential new arrival would be imminent.
