Castleford Tigers news: ex-Hull FC man recalled from loan as injury woes mount ahead of Leigh Leopards game
Injuries to five players could open the door for pre-season signing Jack Ashworth’s long-awaited Castleford Tigers comeback.
The former St Helens and Hull FC second-rower has made only five appearances for Tigers, the most recent of those in April. He joined Betfred Championship side Doncaster on a month’s loan two weeks ago, but is set for a recall after forwards George Hirst, Brock Greacen and Tyler Dupree were all ruled out of Saturday’s game at Leigh Leopards.
Hooker Liam Hood and outside-back Darnell McIntosh are also in doubt, but Tigers coach Ryan Carr - who will name his initial squad at noon tomorrow (Thursday) - insisted he has full faith in whoever comes in.
“There’s some forwards like Sam Hall and Jack Ashworth who have been doing a really good job in reserves and the Championship on loan and grafting away there,” he noted. “It will open the door for a few guys to play now. I am confident they can do a good job for us, as they have before.”
Carr reckons Ashworth is fit and raring to go following his spell at Doncaster. “That’s the reason he has been playing there, to get some regular rugby league under his belt and some match fitness,” Carr stated. “He will be in contention.
“He has shown a great attitude, worked really hard at training. He went and played a few games for Doncaster and did a great job there. He competed really hard for them and he has been doing everything he can that he can control, which I am pleased with.”
Dupree, Greacen and Hirst were ruled out of this weekend’s game after failing head injury assessments during last Sunday’s defeat by Wakefield Trinity. Dupree could return when Castleford play host to Leeds Rhinos a week on Sunday, but the others face a longer spell on the sidelines.
“For George and Brock it’s their second HIA in a month,” Carr said. “They have got to go through a head specialist and all that.”
Hood returned from a serious neck injury last Sunday, but failed to finish the game and is in danger of missing the trip to Leigh, along with McIntosh who has a groin problem. Carr said: “We are still assessing them. They pulled up pretty sore, both of them, so they are in doubt.”
Though Hood was cleared to return at Magic Weekend, Carr stressed Tigers won’t be taking any chances with the veteran hooker’s health. He vowed: “There’s injuries in rugby league you can push through and some I don’t ever try to go past that line, like heads and necks and backs, stuff like that. We have got to do the best thing by the player.”