Super League star unhappy with the way he left former club

We have seen some big transfers in 2023 whether its the underrated business of Leeds Rhinos bringing in Nene MacDonald and James McDonnell, Wigan Warriors drafting in centres Jake Wardle and Toby King or Warrington Wolves’ transformative signing of Paul Vaughan, there have been plenty of huge transfers.

Hull FC’s signing of Jake Clifford has been a real standout, Jake Connor’s return to Huddersfield Giants was a real shock and Leigh Leopards’ business sent a warning to the league that has certainly been delivered upon.

Some of the big business has come mid-season such as recently with Hull KR and Brad Schneider or Josh Griffin at Wakefield Trinity. Griffin is that latest of many big signings for Trinity such as Luke Gale and David Fifita.

Their West Yorkshire rivals meanwhile have also made a mid-season signing with Adam Milner leaving Castleford Tigers for Huddersfield Giants.

“I remember it was a funny old time because when I found out about it, it was Challenge Cup week and well a week before actually and then things sort of progressed,” Milner said.

“Challenge Cup week, Huddersfield played on Friday, Cas played on Sunday and I remember saying to Andy Last, look if things progress in this move then I don’t want to be potentially cup tied or beat Huddersfield who played the round before.

“So that sort of ruled me out of the game for Cas and then the following week it was Huddersfield beating Cas so again illegible to play and then I sort of stayed away from the club.”

Milner also opened up on how emotional it was leaving the Tigers: “I think it was the Saturday I might have done a captain’s run. And I could feel myself holding back the emotions on the field. I felt like a bit of a spare part in the training session.

“I knew it was probably my last one. I didn’t want to hang around. I didn’t want to talk, say my goodbyes because I just knew it would be an emotional time for me.

“Walked in the changing room, grabbed my stuff, went into Stu’s coffee room and the man himself, Stu Boseman, and yeah, I had to hold back the tears.

“I said thanks for everything, Stu, you’ve been an absolute legend in my time, but I’ve got to go, I’ve got to go. I’m in the car, 10 minute journey to my home in Fairbairn and yeah, I couldn’t hold back the tears no more, I’m absolutely devastated.”

He admitted that it wasn’t the way he wanted to leave Cas: “Just an emotional time, just found it so tough how things, obviously not how things had liked to have left at Cas but, on to ventures new now and like I say I’m enjoying it but yeah, extremely emotional, I came home to my partner and she knows how upset I was, just how things ended but, now for Rugby League.”