HALIFAX PANTHERS coach Kyle Eastmond says keeping Ben Crooks as captain was an easy choice.
And he has hinted that the 32-year-old ex-Super League player who was at the centre of things as the Yorkshire side made last season’s Championship play-off semi-finals could make more appearances in the second row this year.
That’s where he played for their Championship opener last Sunday, a 19-12 loss at Doncaster.
He’s following in the footsteps of his father Lee Crooks, the former Great Britain international who was a versatile pack performer for Hull FC, Leeds and Castleford as well as having stints in Australia with Western Suburbs and Balmain Tigers.
Ben has also played for Hull FC and Castleford (as well as Leigh, Hull KR and Keighley, from whom Halifax signed him in 2023).
And in the early stages of his career, he had a stint Down Under in the system of Parramatta Eels (then coached by current Leeds chief Brad Arthur), turning out at fullback, winger and centre for their feeder team Wentworthville Magpies in the New South Wales Cup.
It’s not only the experience of Crooks, who contributed eight tries in 20 outings last year, which appeals to Eastmond, who is going into his second season at the helm.
“Ben is a great leader in his own way,” he explained.
“He’s not one for shouting and bawling, more leading by example.
“He always delivers and as a coach, you can trust him, which for me is one of the biggest compliments you can pay to a captain.
“Playing-wise, he is comfortable at both left and right centre, and growing up, he played in the back row.
“With our squad size, we have to be flexible, and we have loads of players who can take various positions, so we can look and see what works.”