Worry for Castleford Tigers as another half-back is injured - plus boss Daryl Powell reflects on defeat at Wigan Warriors

Castleford Tigers could be without three half-backs for next week's game at Salford Red Devils.
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Danny Richardson (wrist and shoulder injuries) and Gareth O’Brien (leg) both missed Thursday’s 22-12 defeat at Wigan Warriors.

Jordan Turner switched to stand-off, but also picked up a knock as Tigers’ 100 per cent start to the season came to an end.

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“Jordan Turner had a bit of a groin injury so we will have to check on him,” coach Daryl Powell revealed.

Tigers full-back Niall Evalds takes a high kick during Thursday's game. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.Tigers full-back Niall Evalds takes a high kick during Thursday's game. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.
Tigers full-back Niall Evalds takes a high kick during Thursday's game. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.

“We’ve got two half-backs injured at the moment so it’s not ideal getting another one injured, but the game’s like that at the moment, there’s so many injuries around.”

Forward Grant Millington failed a head injury assessment during the game, but could be available for next Friday if he passes the sport’s concussion protocols.

Powell said: “Just the way he went down was an instant fail.

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“We will wait and see, obviously we will go through the checks and see how he is, so fingers crossed he will be all right.”

Powell praised his side’s effort against Wigan, but admitted they lacked some quality at crucial times on attack.

“It was a tough game, we worked hard, but I don’t think we were ever at our best,” he reflected.

“We were in it for large parts, but we lacked a bit of quality in good attacking positions and defensively I think we’d want to improve significantly.

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“But we had 18 fit players to pick from and I thought the players who came in did really well.

“We had players playing in different positions - which you get in the game these days because it’s so tough - but it was close and the boys worked hard.”

The coach added: “Obviously it’s disappointing to lose, but we were in the game and there were lots of good qualities in there in terms of the toughness and desperation from the team.

“It was a pretty heavy slog, we spoke at half-time about trying to play our game because we got rattled into a one-out contest in the first half.

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“We played a little bit better in the second half, but we just couldn’t find enough points to win the game.”

According to Powell, a break by Zak Hardaker which led to Bevan French’s try was a major turning point, which he blamed on a poor kick-chase from Tigers.

He also insisted Sam Powell should not have been able to get the ball down from acting-half close to the line to clinch Wigan’s win late on, but added: “Other than that. It’s a tight game - there’s nothing in it.”

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