Why former Wakefield Trinity forward Craig Huby is so glad to have put Plan B into operation

Rather, though, the erstwhile front-row believes the pandemic has helped give him a new outlook on life that has left him even more positive about the future.

He opened a cafe in Castleford town centre last week, having earlier completed a catering course to become a chef.

Clearly, government guidelines means Huby, who eventually had to finish playing after suffering a serious shoulder injury with Trinity in February last year, can only provide takeaway services.

That is one of the obstacles he faces and, on the prospect of opening a new business during the Covid-19 outbreak, the former Castleford Tigers star conceded: “It is pretty scary, to be fair.

“We’ve obviously got to a stage where we can start bringing a bit of money back in but last week was our first week and it was pretty quiet. We expected that but we’re hopeful things will pick up once people know it’s here.

“We’ve had positive comments from people who have already had food off of us so we’re hoping lockdown gets lifted even more so people can come and sit down here with us obviously taking all the correct measures.”

Huby explained how the family-run Plan Bee, which serves hot and cold food, prep meals and outside catering, proved crucial to remind him what is important.

“I had a couple of months off not doing anything when I retired,” recalled the Yorkshireman, who made almost 300 career appearances, including the 2014 Challenge Cup final with home-town Castleford and two seasons at Huddersfield Giants.

“Then I got a job at a high school in Knottingley, working part-time in their kitchen.

“I also started doing prep meals when I first retired, just for something to do and just for family and friends. But it took off.

“I was getting busier and busier so eventually started doing that properly, working part-time as well and then we also took over the food at my local rugby club Lock Lane. So, on Saturdays and Sundays, we were feeding all the kids, families and guests.

“I was working a lot and with the kids and wife it wasn’t ideal.

“You have to do everything you can to earn a living.

“Obviously then, this lockdown made us realise what we’d been doing was too much; we’d been working seven days a week, were always out of the house and not spending enough time with the kids.

“This (Plan Bee) was something we had in the back of our heads that we wanted to do.

“It was just by chance and a conversation with a friend that this happened. The woman who we eventually leased the premises off said she was shutting down and within a day we were in and started ripping everything out.

“It all happened pretty quick. If we hadn’t stopped what we were doing and had some time at home by ourselves, we’d have probably been doing the same amount of work as we were before. That affects family life after a while so it’s definitely been a positive step.”

Anyone who spends time in Xscape leisure complex in Castleford will often spot rugby league players from West Yorkshire clubs sat there enjoying a coffee.

Does Huby, 34, hope to see some of those now reconvene instead at his new shop?