Castleford Tigers Await Scan Results on Charbel Tasipale’s Knee Injury
In a hard-fought Round 8 clash at the DW Stadium, the Castleford Tigers succumbed to a 36-14 defeat at the hands of the Wigan Warriors. However, the Tigers’ woes extended beyond the final score, as they await the results of a crucial scan on an injury that forced overseas star Charbel Tasipale off the field.
Just seven minutes into the encounter, the Lebanon international Tasipale went down clutching his knee, eventually limping off the pitch and heading straight to the tunnel. The 24-year-old, who had been slotted in at centre for his third appearance of the campaign, was unable to return to the field, being replaced by Brad Martin.
Castleford head coach Craig Lingard was unable to provide a comprehensive update on Tasipale’s injury in the post-match press conference, but he revealed that the player’s knee is currently in a brace, indicating the potential severity of the issue.
“He’s (Tasipale) got his knee in a brace, so he’ll be going for a scan. We’ve got a loyalty reward card on these scans now, so I think this must be a free one!” Lingard quipped.
The Tigers have already faced a significant setback with the absence of Papua New Guinean Sylvester Namo, who missed the Wigan clash and will remain banned for the next four games after his five-match suspension was upheld on appeal earlier this week. Now, it appears Castleford could be without another key player in Tasipale for an extended period, further compounding their injury woes.
Amidst the adversity, Lingard praised the performances of two Castleford debutants, with academy product George Hill and short-term loan signing Louis Senior both earning the coach’s admiration. Hill, a 19-year-old loose forward, made an “exceptional” first-half showing, while Senior, the twin brother of Tigers ace Innes, scored a try in the first half.
Despite the defeat, Lingard remains optimistic about the team’s future, highlighting the pace and athleticism of his wingers, including the returning Jason Qareqare, as a source of encouragement. As the Castleford Tigers await the full extent of Tasipale’s injury, they will undoubtedly be hoping to bounce back stronger and overcome their growing injury challenges in the weeks ahead.
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