Castleford Tigers could have key players back for showdown with Warrington Wolves

Castleford Tigers' injury situation is beginning to ease, coach Daryl Powell says.
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Tigers recorded their first win since Betfred Super League returned from the coronavirus lockdown when they hit back from 18-0 down to beat Salford Red Devils 37-30 two days ago.

They were without three players - winger James Clare (neck), stand-off Jake Trueman (back) and prop Dan Smith (pectoral muscle)- from the team which lost to Wigan Warriors five days earlier, as well as long-term casualties including winger Sosaia Feki and centre Cheyse Blair.

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Feki has yet to play for Tigers after joining them in the off-season and Powell admitted he isn’t getting his hopes up, but said both the former Cronulla man and Blair are “not far off”.

Grant Millington scores Tigers' winning try against Salford. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.Grant Millington scores Tigers' winning try against Salford. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Grant Millington scores Tigers' winning try against Salford. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Tigers are due to face Warrington Wolves at St Helens next Thursday and Powell confirmed: “James Clare should be available next week - and Jake Trueman potentially as well. We will have a few players potentially coming back.”

Smith, though, is back on the long-term casualty list. Powell revealed: “He pulled his pec’ last week in his comeback game, I am not sure exactly how long he is going to be out, but I don’t think he will be available any time soon.”

Tigers are in high spirits after a remarkable win over Salford. Powell’s side had squandered a 14-0 lead against Catalans Dragons and lost from 12-0 ahead against Wigan and he described their latest game as “mad, the whole thing!”

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He said: “We were 18-0 down - I think we did some of the damage to ourselves - and then I thought it was incredible from there, just to fight our way back and end up winning a really tight, intense, end to end game. There’s a lot of things for us to improve, but we needed to win so it’s a really important one for us.”

Dan Smith. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.Dan Smith. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Dan Smith. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Powell insisted he didn’t believe Tigers were out of the game even when they were three converted tries behind.

“We just said ‘stay in it, stay composed’,” he said. “We know what we can do and we proved that. At 18-0, if they score next I think you are in a bit of trouble, but as long as you score next you can claw your way back in.”

The coach felt “key players started to step up” when Salford had built their big early advantage.

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“Paul McShane and Liam Watts were superb in the pack,” he said. “Danny Richardson was outstanding and we started to get our way back into the game.

Junior Moors. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.Junior Moors. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
Junior Moors. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

“Pete Mata’utia started putting his foot down and running and in the second half I thought it was a battle - and I am really pleased to win it.”

A bonus from the game two days ago was Junior Moors’ return, off the bench. Powell said: “It’s good to get him back out there.

“He has been with us a while and he has been an awesome player for us. I think the boys were made up to get him out there.”

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McShane “cramped up” in the second half, but Powell said: “I don’t think it’s anything major, he seems to be okay. He was back to his best, which was really pleasing.”

Meanwhile, Tigers’ delayed Coral Challenge Cup sixth round tie against Hull will be staged at St Helens’ TW Stadium on Sunday, September 13 (3pm).

The winners will face Wigan Warriors at AJ Bell Stadium, Salford, six days later (5pm).

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