Rugby League Twist: Castleford Tigers Suffer Setback as Star Man Sidelined for Rest of Season
Castleford, UK – In a disappointing turn of events, Castleford Tigers head coach Craig Lingard has expressed his frustration after losing a key player for the remainder of the 2024 season due to international duty. Sam Wood, one of the Tigers’ standout and most consistent performers, will miss the rest of the campaign following a shoulder injury sustained while representing England against France.
Wood, who has been a crucial part of Castleford’s success this year, playing in every game and delivering impressive performances week after week, earned a surprise call-up to the England squad. However, the centre suffered the unfortunate injury during the match against France, as confirmed by Lingard in a press conference ahead of the Tigers’ upcoming clash against St Helens.
Lingard’s disappointment was evident as he addressed the situation, stating, “I’d certainly not hold any players back from playing for their country and want to do as much as I can to make sure the international game grows – but it’s got to be better than it was. To echo the comments from Willie [Peters] and Matty Peet, the pinnacle of anybody’s career is representing their country, and we’ve got to make sure the spectacle represents that as well. I don’t think last week did any good for the game at all.”
“I’d certainly not hold any players back from playing for their country and want to do as much as I can to make sure the international game grows – but it’s got to be better than it was.”
The Castleford coach’s comments reflect the frustration shared by many within the Rugby League community regarding the scheduling and lack of television coverage for international matches. Lingard emphasized his support for the national team but expressed his disappointment in losing a key player in a match that he deemed an “embarrassment to the game.”
With Sam Wood’s absence, Castleford will now likely turn to Alex Mellor to partner Corey Hall in the centres, as they look to maintain their momentum in the upcoming clash against St Helens.
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