Last summer's mid-term recruit buckled up to fly into round one

For an NRL import, moving from the sun-soaked beaches of the Gold Coast to the heart of West Yorkshire is a daunting transition at the best of times.

- by James O'Brien

Castleford Tigers forward Joe Stimson in action against St Helens last season.

(Olly Hassell/SWpix)

Making that leap midway through a Super League campaign takes that challenge to another level. Throw in the sacking of the coach after just two games and Joe Stimson could have been forgiven for wondering what he had got himself into.

But the situation the forward found himself in back home in Australia gave him some perspective.

Without a club following his release by Gold Coast Titans, Stimson had a taste of working life before Castleford Tigers offered him a route back into the sport.

He hasn't forgotten that despite the challenges he has faced in his short time at Wheldon Road.

"I was landscaping and doing maintenance work with my neighbour when Castleford thankfully popped up," said Stimson. "It was a bit of a rollercoaster coming over mid-season and leaving my three-month-old behind.

"But it was an opportunity I wanted to take. My partner said I should come for three months and they'd join me after that.

"It was challenging. Magsy [coach Danny McGuire] getting sacked threw a spanner in the works but, with respect to him, I think we're better for it. Carry [Ryan Carr] is doing a great job.