Castleford Tigers reveal lengthy injury list after derby at Leeds Rhinos called off

Hull stepped in to play Leeds in Thursday's Betfred Super League fixture when Tigers were reduced to just 14 fit players.

Of Tigers’ 38-man squad, the club say on Wednesday 14 were on the injury list and another 10 unavailable for coronavirus-related reasons.

Three players had been due to undergo fitness checks on the morning of the match, but when one of those withdrew on Wednesday evening - leaving Tigers with a maximum of 16 for the game - the decision was taken to call it off.

Tigers have confirmed three of their players have tested positive for Covid-19, six more were told to stand down under track and trace protocols and one was already self-isolating due to a family member contracting the virus.

A statement on Tigers’ website said: “The club thanks Super League, Sky Sports and our fellow clubs for their assistance at this time, particularly Hull FC who stepped up to fulfil this fixture, like the Tigers did earlier in the season after there were positive tests in the Black and Whites’ camp.

“We appreciate them doing the same with less than 24 hours’ notice.

“Another round of testing for our first team will be completed on Friday morning and then again on Monday too.

“With some players due to return from injury and the hope of fewer coronavirus complications, Castleford Tigers should be able to field over 17 men for next week’s match against Hull at KCOM Stadium.”

Tigers’ list of injured players is: George Griffin (head, expected to be available in one-two weeks), Oliver Holmes (calf strain, two more weeks), Jesse Sene-Lefao (ankle, due back next week), Michael Shenton (neck, one-two weeks), Danny Richardson (fractured clavicle, nerve damage, loose fragments in a shoulder, one-two more weeks), Daniel Smith (pectoral muscle, due back in November), Bailey Hodgson (patella, available late October/ early November), Sosaia Feki (MCL knee injury, not expected back this season), Peter Mata’utia (leg muscle tear , due back in November), Nathan Massey (potential biceps injury, awaiting more checks), James Clare (cervical spine injury, awaiting more tests), Jake Trueman (back, not known), Alex Foster (back, being assessed), Jacques O’Neill (ribs, awaiting further checks).

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