Rugby League News: Castleford Tigers Seek Reinforcements Amid Injury Crisis
As the Castleford Tigers grapple with a devastating spate of injuries, the club is urgently seeking new recruits to bolster their depleted roster. In the aftermath of their maiden Super League victory over Salford Red Devils last Friday, the Tigers have found themselves down to the bare bones, with four more players added to the injury list.
The most significant loss is the season-ending injury to signing Josh Simm, who Craig Lingard has confirmed will be sidelined for at least five months. Co-captains Paul McShane and Joe Westerman have also fallen victim to the injury woes, with McShane ruled out after suffering another hamstring setback in the warm-up, and Westerman’s participation in the upcoming weekend’s fixture in doubt.
The experienced Liam Watts’ failure to clear the HIA has further depleted the Tigers’ squad, leaving Lingard with only a 19-man roster instead of the standard 21. This dire situation has prompted the club to desperately explore the loan market, with Lingard revealing that discussions are ongoing on an hourly basis.
“We’re hoping to get some in next week, but again, situations at clubs change minute by minute and game by game, and that might be dictated by some of the games this weekend if teams pick up injuries or suspensions,” Lingard told BBC West Yorkshire.
The Challenge Cup weekend poses a unique challenge, as rival clubs are understandably cautious about potentially cup-tying any loanees. However, Lingard remains hopeful that the Tigers can secure at least a couple of new signings next week, particularly in the outside back positions where they are severely lacking numbers.
One player who has recently become available is Tex Hoy, following his release from Hull FC. While Lingard acknowledged the need for reinforcements, he revealed that the Tigers currently do not have any quota space to accommodate Hoy’s signing.
The situation at the Castleford Tigers is certainly a pressing one, and the club’s recruitment efforts will be closely watched as they strive to navigate through this injury crisis and bolster their squad in the coming weeks.
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