Given that Radford does not rate him and was happy for him to leave in the first place did anyone seriously think he would be coming back to Hull?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt FC are paying his salary, as his contract would be ceased,moving to NRL, the only thing would be a nominal fee for his registration.

Regarding Ben,a great natural player, but it looks as if his mentality maybe a problem, as he is currently not selected for Parra's feeder team,and Magpies are bottom of the league.

I heard, he has a hip/groin problem, which inhibits his natural growth ...

IF Powell can improve him, he has heaps of potential. -IMO

FC paying Crooks will depend on the contract, rather than the registration. So if Crooks was released from his contract, he therefore stops getting paid by Hull.

(I think) Hull FC have retained his SL registration until then end of the originally contracted period (2016?). Although, the RFL rules state that a player if not contracted, can ask the RFL to remove them from the register.

Compensation-wise, I think as he's 22 the compensation period has expired (if he was released, which I'm not sure whether he definitely was or not).

Not sure on that, ben Is 6' 3''
I do know he had problems with his stomach when a kid and had a operation to rectify the problem.
Never heard about the hip/groin problems.

I thought it was turnstilitis in his upper body and arms.

I don't think it was a growth problem anyway. He got too big for his boots in just a few months.

Holy Moly! Crooks is a THIRD grade centre, and wouldn't make the first team at Hull next season. If he did, that would show a genuine lack of ambition from the club! You really think Yeaman, Sa or Naughton wouldn't at least manage 2nd grade in the NRL? Even Tansey and Thorman played first grade! Radford, the fans, nor the 3 Aussie coaches Crooks has worked under this season have failed him. He's failed himself, and was the epitome of a one season wonder. The ridiculous knee-jerkery on this issue is amazing!

If we'd signed a 22 year old third grade centre, you'd be going absolutely mental!!!!

top post mate

It doesn't get any more bang on than that.

While it's disappointing to lose a young player who showed a great deal of potential early on I think some of the reactions on here have been way OTT. Ben did have opportunities to prove himself before he left the club and failed to take them. He also hasn't been tearing up any trees in Australia - in fact his career there appears to have been even more disappointing than at Hull. Lineham is the bigger loss by some considerable distance.

Let's wait and see how he gets on at Cas before bemoaning the loss of a giant talent, eh?

A good player, that thought he was an outstanding player. Went to Oz and failed.

Think he'll be a good SL player, but never top class.

Fair assessment (although, I think he has potential to be top class), he certainly isn't 3rd rate like a previous poster claimed.

I think the point is, that I think he is a better player (Or at least has more potential) than any of our current centres at the club.

Hopefully if we recruit right and Jack Logan continues to develop it won't matter about Crooks.

I am disappointed and feel the club is at least partly responsible for this, but some of the posts on here a way over the top.

Out of interest, is Ben playing 3rd grade in the NRL, who are the Eels 2nd grade?

In a nutshell.

difrence from my club to your club we have got coaches who can coach and will get the best out of him he is a Cas lad and it will bring the best out him playing for is home town .

Not sure what him being a Cas lad has to do with it and I don't think my just playing for his hometown it will improve his defence and bring the best out of him.

Powell has a tough job, but he does have a good track record of improving players ability to get the best for the team, but lets kid ourself he hasn't done it for either player you have signed, Tansey for one.

Guess we will see if we have made a mistake with Crooks.

I didn't see anyone call him third rate.

I'm not sure there's any evidence to justify a claim of his superiority to [iany[/i of the centres at our cub. In fact I'm pretty sure there's none whatsoever. Even if you stretch that to [ipotential[/i the evidence is hardy compelling. He had one terrific season and has done nothing since at two different clubs on two continents.

Wentworthville Magpies are Eels second grade, but they have two teams Dave. I didn't say he was third rate - I said third grade - which is a term about him I lifted directly from the Eels forum.

Pretty much the point I was trying to convey.

Lineham made him look good. As soon as Tom was injured, Crooks was found out.

We have far better coming through.

Don't agree with that Crooks scored some great trys and made a lot for other players.

Not sure we have better players coming through either, Logan-not convinced he will make it?

Talanoa is a better IMO and hopefully we will sign another centre who is better than Crooks and it won't matter

Fair enough, but he certainly isn't a 3rd grade over here.

3rd grade you say in Oz - but good enough for SL Dream Team here and that frankly, is all I'm bothered about.

To say Lineham made Ben Crooks look good is bordering on lunacy and is simply not fair to the lad. Centres can make wingers look good, but don't buy into this little theory at all.

I use my eyes as evidence, he is a better than Yeaman and Micheals IMO and could be argued about Sa (Who after a good start to the season has disappointed at centre and is often injured).

I'm not sure what evidence you want?

Heres my 2p worth on the matter....... crooks, was given a chance by pg, who obviously rated him very highly, the season went great for him and lineham, culminating in a dream team spot.....BUT, since then, pg got the chop, and our new coach IMO doesnt rate him nowhere nearly as highly as the previous.... crooks has skill, no doubt, but tge sheer lack of size has had the coaching staff questioning him eversince he couldnt bulk up in the off season...... at times he got bullied, and without a big winger (lineham) outside him, i feel he would have looked average, when in defence anyways... i also beleive crooks himself thought he's better than he actually is, im sure radford and him had "words" regarding this, obviously tgey didnt agree, and both parties thought it was best to move on......, hes struggled to get a start in the reserve grade over in oz, and that probably says it all....... talent - yes...... finished article - nowhere near

Brilliant post. Good luck to the kid I hope he makes it but I doubt he will.

His dream team season was at a massive cost to the players directly around him. In defence he was 3 in. With a second row inside and half back outside. Basically body guards. So big men/2nds/centres ran at him and the 2nd row looked after him. Tricky decisions were made for him by Horne usually in open play defensive situations.
Then in attack was mostly used for the fancy stuff.
Which obviously kinda worked as he and tom made dream team and scored a few.
But Radford came in and I imagine he thought I can't run a team looking after individuals. Or effectively lose a right side for 1 man.
So it seemed to me he changed it and forced Crooks to look after himself. He went to a conventional defensive pattern and Crooks failed. Badly.
Personally I thought radford did what he could with him.
In - terrible
Took him out a while
Brought him back - terrible again
On loan - got some form,and confidence came back v London and looked good.
Next game couldn't tackle a dinner.
Radford couldn't defend for him. He gave him the chances imo