CAMERON SCOTT holds no hard feelings as he bids to end his time at Wakefield Trinity on a high – starting against his future club on Thursday.
The centre will leave for Bradford Bulls at the end of the season after Wakefield opted against offering Scott a new contract, despite him being an ever-present in this campaign.
While Scott has signed a two-year deal with Bradford, his hometown club and where he played Academy rugby before joining Hull FC, it’s purely business for the 26-year-old at Bartercard Odsal this week.
“I would have liked to stay at Wakefield, but I understand their reasoning and how they wanted to shape the squad,” he said.
“I’m not in my younger years any more and there’s some good quality coming up through the system.
“I’ll leave on good terms. I’ve enjoyed my time at the club. I’ve fallen back in love with the game and found some of my best rugby here.
“When I came to the club I had a bit of an injury history. I think I’ve strung 40-plus games together now since being here, so I’m well over that and getting on the field consistently.
“I always wanted to have a prolonged career. I reckon I’m halfway through my pro career, and I’d like to see myself finishing at 35 or 36 if I can get to that. I’m probably hitting my prime years now.”
They will be at Bradford, of whom he said: “It’s a very ambitious club with what they’re setting up.
“They didn’t have much preparation time for Super League this year but they’ve got the framework in place and it’s a different place from when I left all those years ago.
“To be able to play for my hometown club in Super League, heading in the right direction, was a massive selling point.
“It’s close to home and it means a lot to my family, who have all been massive Bradford fans from day one.
“They’ve got a great coach in Kurt Haggerty and I like the way he plays and how he sees me fitting into his plans.”
But before all that, Scott wants the best possible farewell at Wakefield and insists Super League success is possible.
“I’d love to win the comp,” he said.
“We had a massive push for the Challenge Cup and ultimately fell short against Wigan (in the quarter-finals). We thought if we got through that game, we could have gone on to win it (the trophy).
“On our day, we challenge anyone in the competition. Teams start to fear us now when we’re firing.
“We’re sat in a pretty healthy spot. We had the play-off disappointment last year which will hold us in much better stead this year.
“We’re still not writing off having a home play-off and maybe even a week off before the semi-final (by finishing in the top two) – we’re so close we can touch that.
“It’s all to play for. There’s no reason why we can’t go all the way.”