Jewitt to exit Castleford
Forward Lee Jewitt is leaving Castleford at the end of this season when his contract expires to play in Australia.
Jewitt has signed a one-year contract with the Townsville Blackhawks, the feeder club for North Queensland Cowboys.
Jewitt joined the Tigers in 2014 from French side Limoux while Castleford were in the midst of an injury crisis.
He played a big part in the great Challenge Cup run which included him scoring the winner against Wigan in the Quarter-Final in 2014. Prior to moving to France, Jewitt played for six years with Salford City Reds playing over 100 games for the club.
He started his career with Wigan Warriors making his debut in 2005 after coming through the youth ranks at the club, and recently notched up his 150th Super League appearance.
“Bec and I have always wanted to live in Australia, we’ve dreamt of doing it all our lives and eventually we want to emigrate over there,” Jewitt said.
“Our twin boys have come such a long way now and it’s just been an opportunity, as a family, that we couldn’t turn down.
“It will be really tough for me to leave Cas. I’ve dreaded this bit, I reckon if I was at any other club then I would just be doing my job, but this club is special, I love it here, and it’s not just me, when your kids are always talking about it and how much they love it, then yeah it’s going to be tough to leave here.
“I want to leave here on a high. This is a special club and a special team. I love the boys here and the coaching staff and I just want to leave here knowing that I have done my best for them, so that they can say they are proud of me, and that I have given it all that I’ve got.
“The dream for me now is to leave knowing that I’ve helped bring a trophy back to this club, because this club and these fans deserve that.”
Tigers head coach Daryl Powell said Jewitt has been a quality player for the club over the last two years.
“He has been a great addition to our pack and during his difficult year personally in 2015 you could clearly see how highly respected he is within this club,” he said.
“Once he has finished his time at Cas with a superb season I wish him and his family all the best in their move to Australia.”