Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes moves to shake off St Helens shocker

FIVE DAYS later, Castleford Tigers are still smarting from their Betfred Super League round-one embarrassment at St Helens, but forward Oliver Holmes insists they are itching to put things right.
Castleford Tigers forward, Oliver Holmes. PIC: Tony JohnsonCastleford Tigers forward, Oliver Holmes. PIC: Tony Johnson
Castleford Tigers forward, Oliver Holmes. PIC: Tony Johnson

Tigers begin their home campaign against Widnes Vikings on Sunday and proving they are better than the team trounced 46-6 last weekend will be their number one priority.

“I think it’ll stay with us for a couple of weeks,” Holmes admitted of last Friday’s loss. “But we’ve had a look at it and addressed a few things, we’ve been put through our paces and through some hard work on the training field and we are looking for a response.

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“That’s the beauty of rugby league, games come thick and fast and you get chance to put things right.”

Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes. PIC: Jonathan GawthorpeCastleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Holmes, who is out of contract at the end of the season and hoping for a new deal, admitted there was “a bit of dishonesty about us” in the game at Saints and he stressed: “We pride ourselves on being a hardworking, honest team and looking after each other.

“That didn’t seem to be the case last week. We can’t quite put our finger on why, but we definitely know where we need to be better and what we need to improve on so it doesn’t happen again.”

Last week’s result and performance was a shock to Tigers’ players – as well as their travelling fans – but Holmes feels the early setback could work in their favour in the long run.

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“We didn’t see it coming,” he conceded. “There’s been times in previous years when we haven’t let games like that get away from us.

Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes. PIC: Jonathan GawthorpeCastleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

“We’ve been able to claw our way back into games and we pride ourselves on a never-say-die attitude.

“For a game to get away from us like it did was a bit disappointing and worrying, but we have addressed everything and we could maybe turn this into a positive four or five weeks down the line, look back at this to say we probably needed it.

“It has been a rude awakening and it could turn into a positive if we go out and put things right and it doesn’t happen to us again. It’s better it happening at the start of the season than halfway through or towards the back end when it’s most important.”