Castleford Tigers reaction: Lee Radford 'proud' after defeat at Leeds Rhinos

Injury-hit Tigers, with no specialist half-backs, looked to be heading for sixth place in Betfred Super League when they led 8-0 with less than eight minutes left.

But a penalty followed by two converted tries, including one on the last play of the game, saw Rhinos snatch a 14-8 win, leaving Tigers in seventh, one place outside the play-offs.

Radford said: “Although we didn’t achieve our season goal, with all that’s been thrown at us and the challenges we’ve overcome, I’m incredibly proud of them.”

Castleford’s battling performance came just five days after a 50-10 home loss to Salford Red Devils and he was pleased with his men’s response.

“We’ve had plenty of time to reflect and review and analyse what was needed this week,” Radford said.

“I said it would be a crime if the season ended with a performance the same as Monday’s, but it didn’t.

“We had an unbelievable effort and commitment to one another. When you’ve given everything and there’s nothing left, you can sometimes accept that.

“Nobody likes losing, everybody wants to get in the six, but if you’re not going to get there, this was probably the way to do it.”

An error-ridden first half ended scoreless and Radford added: “I thought it was a poor quality game in terms of skill and execution, but it was exciting. Unfortunately, we just ran out of gas.”

Radford singled out Mahe Fonua, Derrrell Olpherts and Bureta Faraimo and described teenage hooker Cain Robb’s performance as “phenomenal”.

He said: “I watched him play reserves last week and some of the stuff he did was exactly what we were asking for from our defensive structures. He came and did that today.”

Tigers will now turn their attention to next season, with Leeds prop Muizz Mustapha and centre Jack Broadbent, plus half-backs Jacob Miller from Wakefield Trinity and Gareth Widdop, of Warrington Wolves, expected to be confirmed as new recruits.

Saturday’s game was winger Olpherts’ last for Cas before his predicted move to Rhinos.