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Consistency must be Castleford Tigers’ aim, insists Millward
Adam Milner in match action for Castleford Tigers.
After making a winning start to the season, coach Ian Millward has challenged his Castleford Tigers players to prove that it wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Tigers are due to face Bradford Bulls at Probiz Coliseum tomorrow, eight days on from a 24-10 win away to Salford City Reds in Stobart Super League round one.
Millwar was delighted with the way his team dealt with a tough first hurdle, but he admitted that doing it on a regular basis is where the real challenge lies.
“We have said all along that all we want is to become more consistent,” said the new boss.
Proud
“This will be a good test to see where we are. I could not be any prouder of the way the boys played last week, their attitude and the way they went about their business was very good.
“But the test is to see if we can repeat it. We are definitely going to have good days and some not- so-good days.
“We are a team with a new coach and it is a process, I am not sure where we are at the moment.
“Attitude-wise, if we repeat what we had last week we are going to go very well. But we are going to play on a different surface this week and that is a challenge in itself.”
Bulls were crushed 34-12 at home by Catalan Dragons last Sunday, but Millward – who is confident that tomorrow’s game will go ahead despite this week’s freezing weather – warned that the scoreline wasn’t a true reflection of the danger that the Bulls will pose tomorrow.
He was at the game and said: “They played very well in patches and not so well in others.
“They should have scored a couple of tries early on which could have changed the game.
“They have got too many good players not to be a threat, but our focus is on ourselves and getting our game in order and once we do, being consistent.”
Millward is relishing his first competitive game in front of Tigers’ own fans.
He said: “They were fantastic last week, the support and the number who travelled.”
Bulls chief Mick Potter regards Man of Steel Rangi Chase and hookers Daryl Clark and Adam Milner as Tigers’ danger men.
He said: “It will be a tough match for us. They have some really good set plays that are hard to handle because of the personnel.
“We’ll look out for those and I’m sure Ian Millward will come up with something a little bit special for us as well.”
Millward will select from the players who beat Salford, plus Ryan Hudson and James Grehan.
Elliott Whitehead has completed a five-match ban – imposed for biting in a game last August – and is included in Bulls’ initial 19-man squad, but fellow back-rower John Bateman is ruled out due to injury.
Ben Jeffires and Phil Joseph – who were 18th and 19th man last week – retain their places in the provisional squad.
Castleford Tigers from: Owen, Dixon, Arundel, McGoldrick, Griffin, Chase, Orr, Emmitt, Milner, Walker, Mitchell, Holmes, Jones, Clark, Ferres, Massey, Nash, Hudson, Grehan.
Bradford Bulls from: Kearney, Crookes, Purtell, Walker, Kear, Sammut, Gale, Kopczak, Diskin, Hargreaves, Whitehead, Sibbit, Langley, L’Estrange, Scruton, Donaldson, Burgess, Jeffries, Joseph.
Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).
Kick-off: Tomorrow, 3.30pm.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
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