Page 20 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

WORDS: ALEX DAVIS; MATTHEW SHAW;

GARETH WALKER; LORRAINE MARSDEN CASTLEFORD TIGERS

RLW PREDICTS: 5th

Castleford Tigers’ season could well come those gaps with the signings of George
down to the form of their young halfback Griffin and Derrell Olpherts from Salford
pairing. and Tyla Hepi from Toulouse. But the big
With Luke Gale heading to Leeds Rhinos name signing is Sosaia Feki from Cronulla
after two injury-hit seasons, the Tigers Sharks.
have moved to replace him by signing Feki won the NRL title with the Sharks
2018 Dream Team member Danny back in 2016 and played almost 150 NRL
Richardson from St Helens. games for Cronulla. He’s still only 28 so
Richardson found it difficult to nail down has plenty left to give and will prove an
a position in the Saints’ Super League- excellent signing for the West Yorkshire
winning team last year but there’s no outfit. Greg Eden may find it hard to oust
doubt that, at the age of 23, his best either Feki or James Clare if his form last
years are still ahead of him. season is anything to go by.
There will be a huge amount of pressure Meanwhile, their captain Michael Shenton,
on both Richardson and Jake Trueman, who celebrated his Testimonial in January,
who only turns 21 in February. If either will feel like a new signing after an injury-
is struck down with a long-term injury, plagued 2019.
the Tigers don’t have much in the way of In the pack, it’s fair to say there are a few
specialist cover with utility players Calum players coming towards the end of their
Turner, Peter Mata’utia or Jordan Rankin careers in Grant Millington and Junior
likely to be called upon. Moors with the latter again suffering huge
It is however incredibly refreshing to see injury problems in previous years. The fact
a side attempting to challenge at the that the Tigers achieved a playoff place
top of the table with two young English last year despite such injury issues has
halfbacks.
2020 SQUAD: Elsewhere, the Tigers have seen several to be a massive plus for their supporters.
If they keep their squad fitter than they
1 Jordan Rankin squad players depart with Cory Aston, did last year then they have every chance
2 Derrell Olpherts Mitch Clark, Chris Clarkson, Tuoyo Egodo, of challenging. But if Richardson and
Will Maher and Greg Minikin all leaving for Trueman can’t produce in the halves, it
3 Peter Mata’utia
other opportunities. could be a season of struggle. If they can,
4 Michael Shenton
Castleford have attempted to plug then the sky is the limit for the Tigers.
5 Sosaia Feki
6 Jake Trueman STAR PLAYER COACH
7 Danny Richardson
8 Liam Watts
9 Paul McShane
10 Grant Millington
11 Oliver Holmes
12 Mike McMeeken
13 Adam Milner
14 Nathan Massey
15 Jesse Sene-Lefao
16 George Griffin
17 Alex Foster
Daryl Powell is the longest serving
18 Cheyse Blair
coach in Super League. He’s been with
19 Daniel Smith
the Tigers since 2013 after moving the
20 Junior Moors few miles to the Jungle from local rivals
21 James Clare Liam Watts, a big front-row forward, is Featherstone Rovers.
22 Jacques O’Neill crucial to the Tigers’ chances in 2020. Since that move, the Tigers have improved
23 Matt Cook The fact that he will miss the opening hugely. Bottom-of-the-table dwellers year
24 Tyla Hepi few rounds of the season is a big blow on year before Powell’s arrival, Castleford
for Castleford. have graced the top five of Super League
25 Greg Eden
Watts’ move from Hull FC midway through in each and every one of Powell’s full
26 Calum Turner
2018 has to go down as one of the best seasons in charge
27 Lewis Peachey signings by the Tigers in recent years. The one thing that eludes Powell is one of
28 Brad Graham His discipline on the field hasn’t plagued the two major trophies. Castleford won
29 Joe Summers his time in his home town like it did the League Leaders’ Shield in 2017 but
30 Robbie Storey at Hull, allowing him to showcase his have lost both a Challenge Cup Final and a
immense talent. Super League Grand Final to Leeds Rhinos.

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