Ryan Hampshire set to make Castleford debut against Salford
Tuesday 8 March 2016 15:52, UK
Ryan Hampshire's patience is set to pay off as he prepares to make his Castleford debut.
The 21-year-old joined the Tigers on a season-long loan from Wigan in a bid to gain regular Super League action but was forced into a watching brief for the opening four rounds.
Now an injury to first-choice stand-off Ben Roberts has opened the door for Hampshire to make his Castleford bow against Salford at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Sunday.
Hampshire had become frustrated at his shortage of opportunities at the Warriors but he always knew it would be tough to break into the Tigers team in his favoured position of half-back with Roberts and Luke Gale given the six and seven jerseys.
The 21-year-old made 25 appearances in three seasons at Wigan after joining them from school but most were in his second-choice position of full-back and he opted to return to Yorkshire - he was born in nearby Pontefract hospital - after expressing his preference to Castleford coach Daryl Powell.
I was in the mix for full-back at Wigan but I know, if I'm going to be the best player I can, I have to be in the halves, so I'm backing my own ability.
And he stuck with his decision when Sam Tomkins was ruled out for the first two months of the season with a knee injury.
"I needed this move," he said. "I needed something different at this stage and Wigan were good with it. It was my idea and, after a while, they realised how much I wanted it.
"I was in the mix for full-back at Wigan but I know, if I'm going to be the best player I can, I have to be in the halves, so I'm backing my own ability.
"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy full-back, it's a good position and it helps you to learn to play half as well, but I've always played half-back."
Hampshire was playing half-back for his school in a national final in London at the age of 15 when he was spotted by Wigan and he decided to sign for them despite being a Wakefield fan.
"I was at Wakefield (training with the club's U13s) for a little while before I went to Wigan so it was a bit of a weird one," he said.
"I've still got a soft spot for Wakefield but that was the best career move for me so I had to put that kind of stuff to one side and be professional about it."
Hampshire signed a new three-year contract with Wigan on the day his move to Castleford was announced but has not ruled out making his stay in Yorkshire permanent if things work out well for him.
"To be honest, I'm not thinking about the future, I'm just thinking about now," he said. "I'm here for a year and whatever happens after that, we'll see.
"I think I'm going to buy my own house over here, although it's good to be back with my mum. I enjoyed being in Wigan but I've not been home for four or five years now, I'd forgotten what it's like to live at home."
Wigan have placed no restrictions on the loan deal and Hampshire already has his eyes set on next month's clash with his old team-mates at the DW Stadium.
"I am allowed to play against Wigan, which will be weird but it's something I'm looking forward to," he said. "I've got a point to prove and that's what I'll be doing."
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