One injury concern for Castleford Tigers after Hull KR test - but Daryl Powell expects strong squad for Super League opener

Centre/back-rower Alex Foster will be assessed after injuring a biceps, but coach Daryl Powell expects to have a near clean bill of health for the Betfred Super League round one clash with Warrington Wolves on March 28.

Sosaia Feki (Achilles) is out for the season and new signing Suaia Matagi will miss the opening game because of a calf muscle injury, but Powell said: “Most of the injuries we’ve got at the minute, we are just not risking anybody.

“We’ve got a couple of boys coming back from bits and pieces over the pre-season and from last season. Quite a few of those boys who didn’t play [on Sunday] will be ready for round one and it’s just about my selection then.”

Powell felt Jordan Turner was “excellent” in his first game since joining Tigers from Huddersfield Giants, but stand-off Jake Trueman stole the show in the 30-20 win.

“He was pretty special,” Powell said. “He had a few things last year that weren’t great for him, with his back, but he looks in good shape and the first half was pretty accomplished from him.

“His running game is really dangerous and he showed that, but his kicking game [was good] as well and the way he communicates with other players. From all perspectives he has had a great pre-season and he showed that the way he performed.”

Powell feels Tigers, who led 18-0 at half-time, will be better for the run out against Rovers. It was their only pre-season match and he said: “It was a really good game for us.

“The way Hull KR play, they challenge you everywhere on the field, they are a little bit unpredictable, so in that aspect it was good for us.

“In the first half I thought we were great. One thing we will have to look at is the amount of six-agains we had to deal with, but we did that really well. In the second half we changed things around a bit and conceded a couple of tries around the middle, but it was good for the team to get a hit-out.

“It was a really solid team performance and gives us a lot of positives to build on over the next two weeks.”

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