Axe loop fixtures and save the Challenge Cup says Castleford Tigers boss

Ditching controversial ‘loop’ fixtures is the “obvious” way of getting the season finished, Castleford Tigers coach Daryl Powell says.
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Betfred Super League’s 29-round regular campaign includes six extra matches when teams play some others a third time.

The competition was suspended after round seven last month and a restart date has not yet been announced.

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Options being considered by the Rugby Football and Super League are believed to include scheduling regular midweek matches, moving the Coral Challenge Cup final back to October and staging the title decider in November.

Daryl Powell. Picture by Jonathan GawthorpeDaryl Powell. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe
Daryl Powell. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe

Powell admitted the return date is crucial, but feels a 22-game season, with teams playing each other once at home and away, is the best way forward.

“It’s the timescales that are most important,” he said.

“If we don’t start back until July that will dictate it a bit.

“We have got the luxury of the loop fixtures and there’s an argument around them anyway. I think that would be the obvious one.

Castleford Tigers are due to play Toronto Wolfpack three times in Super League this year. Picture by Tony Johnson.Castleford Tigers are due to play Toronto Wolfpack three times in Super League this year. Picture by Tony Johnson.
Castleford Tigers are due to play Toronto Wolfpack three times in Super League this year. Picture by Tony Johnson.
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“There’s also the Challenge Cup; I think you’d want that to go ahead if you could.

“Whether it [the final] is played somewhere else or not you’d like that to be in the calendar.

“The loop fixtures are the obvious ones, it makes it a fair competition anyway so that’s what I’d go with.”

Clubs in Australia’s NRL were told this week to prepare for the season resuming on May 28.

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Powell said: “I think we are about ready for some communication about where we are at and what we’re doing.

“The Australians are probably in a different situation as a country, but they have been proactive from the off.

“I am not having a go at anybody, it is a pretty tough situation, but I think we are going to have to think laterally in all this and hopefully we can get going.”

With team training currently banned, it is unclear if clubs will be allowed a mini pre-season before fixtures restart.

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“That would be an ideal scenario, but whether that’s possible or not we don’t know,” Powell said.

“We have got to be able to turn up and crack straight on if that’s going to happen, but the ideal thing would be to spend some time together.”

Like at all clubs, Tigers’ players are keeping fit at home, but Powell said the coaching staff are in regular contact.

“The boys are training on their own and we are communicating through Zoom,” he confirmed.

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“Both coaching staff and players are on that and they are just doing their own individual programs.

“It is hard to do anything else. They have got a running program and then a weights program as well, which is obviously a bit more limited because they have only got so much gear at home.

“It is just about keeping players as close to where they need to be as we can for as long as it lasts.”

Powell added: “We try to ring round as much as we can. I spoke to everybody last week and if it’s not me will split it up.

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“We have video meetings and we are keeping in contact, making sure if and when it happens - hopefully when - we are straight back into it.”

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