Castleford Tigers boss Daryl Powell proud of players in spite of Challenge Cup exit to Hull

HIS TEAM are out of the Coral Challenge Cup, but coach Daryl Powell was “proud” of Castleford Tigers following their 29-16 loss to Hull in yesterday’s sixth-round tie at St Helens.
By Peter Smith
Published 14th Sep 2020, 06:00 BST
Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell, right, during his side's Coral Challenge Cup exit to Hull FC. Picture: Tony Johnson/JPIMedia.Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell, right, during his side's Coral Challenge Cup exit to Hull FC. Picture: Tony Johnson/JPIMedia.
Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell, right, during his side's Coral Challenge Cup exit to Hull FC. Picture: Tony Johnson/JPIMedia.

Tigers backed up just three days after an agonising last-gasp defeat by Warrington Wolves in Betfred Super League and lost debutant winger Sosaia Feki (knee) and prop Grant Millington (concussion) to injury.

“I thought we were fantastic, the courage we showed,” Powell said afterwards.

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“Having been here on Thursday night, the boys didn’t get home until 2am and coming back here on Sunday to play another game in a different competition was always going to be tough.

Castleford Tigers' Tyla Hepi takes the game to Hull. Picture: Tony Johnson/JPIMedia.Castleford Tigers' Tyla Hepi takes the game to Hull. Picture: Tony Johnson/JPIMedia.
Castleford Tigers' Tyla Hepi takes the game to Hull. Picture: Tony Johnson/JPIMedia.

“That period just around half-time was the difference out of all of it, they scored an intercept and then straight after half-time from a tap-20.

“Apart from that, we created some really smart tries. It was a huge, huge effort and we could easily have won that game.”

Powell described both teams as “absolutely busted” after their short turnaround.

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He said: “Blokes were laid on the floor at the end because they’ve got nothing left.

“I think it is asking a bit too much, to be honest.”

Of Feki, Powell said: “It’s a huge disappointment to him. It sometimes happens to a player when he just can’t get any luck.

“He has hurt his knee, I am not exactly sure what it is, but obviously he couldn’t come back on.

“It is not a great injury so we will get that checked.”

Powell added: “Grant Millington got knocked out and couldn’t come back on and that had a big impact, losing your most experienced front-rower.”

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Related topics:Daryl PowellCastleford TigersHullTigersSt Helens

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