Castleford Tigers news: star close to returning from injury as cause of Mikaele Ravalawa layoff revealed
Castleford Tigers are on the verge of getting a key player back from long-term injury.
Alex Mellor hasn’t played since breaking a leg in a defeat at Toulouse Olympique on February 21, but could be in contention when Tigers visit Wigan Warriors in two weeks’ time. “He is getting there,” coach Ryan Carr said of the back-rower and team captain. “He is progressing really well and ticking all the boxes he can.
“It’s just the bone that has to heal, but [he should be back] in the next couple of weeks. It’s the Challenge Cup next weekend, which we don’t have a fixture in, but after that we play Wigan and we’d assume he’ll be back by then.”
Carr has also revealed winger Mikaele Ravalawa didn’t play in last week’s win against Bradford Bulls because of a leg injury, rather than being dropped. He said: “He picked up a knock. We are investigating that and trying to get to the bottom of it, but it’s not too serious. If not this week, it [his return] will probably be the following week.”
Carr will name an initial 21-man squad at noon today (Friday) for Sunday’s home derby with Wakefield Trinity and is now having to make decisions on who to leave out, rather than how to put 17 players on the field. Cain Robb and Jimmy Beckett have joined Batley Bulldogs and Goole Vikings respectively on loan this week and Carr said: “We’ve got a few players available for selection who weren’t last week, through injuries and things like that,” he added.
“When you have people missing out, that is a good headache to have as a coach and something we haven’t had much this year. We’ve had heaps of head knocks and things that have kept players out for one week and they are back for the next.
“That makes it tricky to maintain the same 17 every week, but hopefully we can get a run of luck in that area and then build on that consistency among the group. We have been pretty thin in our roster and we are starting to get a few healthy.”
Winger Jake Thewlis, signed this week on loan from Warrington Wolves, is in contention to make his debut and could replace Semi Valemei who is ruled out under rugby league’s concussion protocol.