Castleford Tigers 16 Wakefield Trinity 4: coaches' reaction after Super League four-pointer

With eight games played, Castleford are now four points clear of Trinity who remain rooted to the foot of Betfred Super League.

Last’s opposite number, Mark Applegarth, admitted Trinity's latest loss “stings”, but pledged they will fight on.

Tigers led 12-0 at half-time, but Trinity cut the gap by four points early in the second period and Last praised his side's “character and desperation”, particularly when they were down to 12 men with Joe Westerman in the sin-bin.

He said: “We need to make sure we stay in Super League and that was great for us. In a high-pressure game we were able to roll our sleeves up and dig in.

“I felt we played well within ourselves, but that was the occasion and the importance of the two points.”

Captain Paul McShane was at the heart of Tigers’ second win of the season, but two tries from winger Greg Eden proved crucial.

“He has been good for Castleford Tigers for a number of years now,” Last said of Eden.

“He has got that x-factor and ability to come up with something about nothing. He has a natural instinct for getting across the tryline.”

The defeat left Trinity still searching for their first win of 2023 and Last, a former assistant-coach there, admitted: “I really feel for Wakefield.

“I had a year there and there’s some good people. Mark Applegarth is a good young coach and he’s desperate for a win, but you have to be ruthless.”

Trinity boss Applegarth admited an eighth defeat in as many games hurt him and his players. He said: “Cas defended their line really well and we just didn’t take a couple of chances we created.

“It wasn’t through lack of trying and the lads are down in the dumps in the changing room, but we go again.

“Everyone will hurt, but we'll do our review, speak about it, look at what we can improve on and move forward.

He added: “You've got to take it on the chin and keep on moving through it. Everyone did what they were asked, but we have got to be more clinical and smart about the way we do things.”