Cook a better player already at Castleford Tigers

New Castleford Tigers signing Matt Cook admits he is already feeling like a better player with the club, saying he’s had to “sharpen up his skills” to fit into the club.

Cook has arrived at the club following a spell with London Broncos, having suffered relegation to the Championship during his final campaign with the club. Cook did spend a short period on loan with the Tigers back in 2008, and the 28-year-old said that whilst pre-season has inevitably been tough, it is already starting to improve him.

“The training’s been good. It’s been tough, as all pre-seasons are with long days. You set off in the morning in the dark and get home in the dark,” Cook said.

“The conditioner Ben Cooper gets hold of you and likes to get the best out of you. The training is intense with the fitness, the weights and then all the skills as well. I’m enjoying it, but it’s been tough so far.

“Hopefully I’d like to think I’ve improved skills wise a little bit already in the short space of time. Cas being a big attacking team in the past the skills are very important, being able to move the ball around and things like that.

“I’ve had to sharpen up my handling skills a little bit and hopefully it’s set me in good stead.”