Danny Orr insists he would have considered a new deal with Harlequins RL if the London club had elected to put one on the table, after the scrum-half announced his intention to return to Castleford next season.

Orr will end a four-year spell in the capital when he heads to the Jungle for the 2011 campaign, taking up a player-coaching role with the Tigers.

And the 32-year-old admits his departure will be tinged with sadness.

Orr said: “To be honest this situation has been in the pipeline for some time.

“I had a chat with Brian McDermott a few weeks ago and he said he was really keen to keep me on for next season, which was really pleasing.

“But I do not think the chairman was so hot on the idea, and no offer was made to me.

“If they had offered me something I would definitely have considered it, but they told me that I had permission to talk to other clubs.

“I had spoken to my wife about things and we thought with two young kids it might be a good time to move back up north.

“When the Castleford offer came in that just seemed like the right move for me.”

The diminutive star will remain at the Stoop for the rest of this campaign, which is a case of playing out time for Quins after their play-off hopes all but ended in a 32-18 defeat at St Helens on Sunday, despite tries from Jason Golden, Jamie O’Callaghan and Ryan Esders.

But Orr vowed there will be no easing off the gas.

He added: “We are professionals and it is our job to go out and try to win matches.

“I am a very competitive person and it does not matter if it is tiddlywinks with the kids or Super League - I want to win.

“Obviously it is going to be a tough end to the season but we have to keep on fighting and try to end on a high.”

Making his debut for the Londoners in 2007, Orr is expected to rack up his 100th appearance in Sunday’s game at Huddersfield.

And he remains adamant he will be leaving a better club than he joined.

Orr added: “There is no doubt in my mind that the club is in better shape now, especially when you are looking at things long term.

“When I joined all the talk was about how many Aussies there were and how the club was going to move forward.

“That situation has been turned on its head now and there are players here that can be the backbone of London rugby league for many years to come.

“It is something I am very proud of having been a part of and I will look back on my time here very fondly.”

Harlequins RL’s next three matches: July 25 Huddersfield (a), 31 Hull FC (h), August 7 Crusaders (a)