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Castleford Tigers Face Injury Crisis Ahead of Rugby League Challenge Cup Quarter-Final against Wigan Warriors (March 25, 2023)
In a significant blow to their Challenge Cup aspirations, Castleford Tigers’ squad has been decimated by a spate of injuries, with up to 15 players potentially unavailable for their upcoming quarter-final clash against reigning champions Wigan Warriors. As detailed by head coach Craig Lingard, the Tigers’ roster has been severely depleted, raising concerns ahead of the high-stakes match.
The rugby league team will host Wigan at the Jungle on Sunday, aiming to reach the semi-finals of the prestigious Challenge Cup for the first time since 2021, when they were eventually beaten finalists. However, their task has been made significantly more challenging due to the mounting injury crisis within the squad.
Lingard revealed that 13 players are definitively ruled out, with two additional athletes requiring fitness checks before the match. This includes key players such as Liam Watts, who failed a Head Injury Assessment last weekend, and Paul McShane, who suffered a hamstring injury during the warm-up. Additionally, young prospect Josh Simm is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder, an injury that is set to keep him out for the remainder of the rugby league season.
“I can sit here and moan all I want about it, but it’s not going to change, so I might as well crack on with the guys that I’ve got,” the Castleford boss stated in his pre-match press conference.
Despite the grim situation, Lingard remains determined to field a competitive team against the formidable Wigan Warriors, who have already defeated the Tigers once this year in the opening round of the Super League campaign.
The Tigers will be hoping to draw on their recent Super League victory over Salford Red Devils as they aim to topple the reigning rugby league champions and secure a place in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. Fans and rugby league enthusiasts will be eagerly anticipating this high-stakes quarter-final encounter, which promises to be a true test of Castleford’s resilience and depth in the face of a severe injury crisis.
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