HULL KR are hoping to bring terrace hero Ben Cockayne back to the club from Wakefield next season, the Mail can exclusively reveal.
The Robins have already made an official approach to their Super League rivals over their former star.
And although Wakefield are keen to hold on to one of their top performers, Rovers interest could force the decision out of their hands.
Cockayne's no-nonsense style and dedication made him a firm terrace favourite at the Robins, with the player calling the club's fans 'the best in Super League'.
He was devastated to leave in 2011, when the Robins reluctantly released him from his deal after a series of off-the-field issues which brought negative publicity for the club.
However, since then he has steered clear of trouble and been a huge hit with the Wildcats, even earning a call-up to the England train-on squad in March.
Now, talk of a return to KR is growing, and given he now has a steadier lifestyle, it is thought Rovers would be happy to see him back in red and white.
When approached by the Mail yesterday, KR chairman Neil Hudgell would not comment as to whether or not an offer had been made by the Robins.
Pressed further and asked if he would be willing to have Cockayne back at the Robins, despite cutting his contract two years ago, Hudgell said: "I would never say never in terms of Ben returning to play for us at some stage .
"He is a quality player who I know the fans would love to have back, but at present he has another year left on his Wakefield deal.
"When we released Ben it was never about his qualities as a player. There were simply too many off-field issues affecting both his performance and the club.
"I have been glad to see the move to Wakefield work out for him, as he appears to have changed his character and grown up."
If Cockayne was to return to the Robins, it would be a move met with delight by the club's fans, who still regarded him as a hero despite his troubles off the field.
His 100 per cent commitment on the field every week – which has continued to be a standout feature at the Wildcats – endeared him to the red and white army.
He left the Robins in July 2011 after being suspended by the club following an alleged police chase in Castleford.
Coming just weeks after facing police questions over racially abusive comments made on his Facebook page, something he later made a public apology for, Rovers said his position had become untenable.
He had also been in trouble in 2009 when admitting assault causing actual bodily harm on a man in West Yorkshire.
However, an indication of his standing at the club came when he was invited to join other departing players in an on-field send-off in front of the fans in the same season of his release.
In total, Cockayne scored 57 tries in 139 appearances for KR, helping them win promotion into Super League and achieve their first play-off win over Hull FC.
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