Castleford Tigers remain on course for a bright future despite their current turmoil, director of rugby Chris Chester insists.

Tigers go into tomorrow’s (Friday) game at Hull FC without a head-coach and on the back of three successive heavy defeats. Team boss Ryan Carr remains absent for what the club say are “personal reasons”, but Chester vowed recent disruption won’t distract from Tigers’ long-term plan.

“I don’t think it will take us back to squad one,” he said of the drama surrounding Carr’s position. “I know it has been a very difficult time for Cas fans, everybody feels it at the moment, but I think there’s some really good things around the corner.”

However, Chester stressed: “We can’t take an eye off 2026 because there’s some important games coming up in terms of IMG points. It is important we finish as far up the ladder as we possibly can. Eighth is still a target - we are two wins away from Catalans.

Teenage back Daniel Sarbah is in contention to make his Castleford Tigers debut away to Hull FC on Friday. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Teenage back Daniel Sarbah is in contention to make his Castleford Tigers debut away to Hull FC on Friday. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

“The ball is in our court. It has been tough on our fans, I want to thank them for the support they have given us this year and hopefully we get plenty of fans there on Friday night.”

Hull are 12th in the table, one place and two points behind Tigers. They also boast a far superior for and against and Chester insisted: “Physically it is going to be a big one for us and physically we need to be on it. We know what we need to do to win and it’s up to us to perform.”

Mikaele Ravalawa is set to feature for Tigers after being recalled from his loan spell with Doncaster. Half-back Tom Weaver is back in contention following concussion and rookie back Daniel Sarbah could make his debut.

Hull FC: from Barron, Litten, Martin, Arthur, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, Cust, Bell, Lisone, Sao, Romano, Moy, Laidlaw, Salabio, Hutchinson, Kemp, Clark, O’Neill.

Castleford Tigers: from Ravalawa, Asi, Weaver, Atoni, Hood, Lawler, Lane, Mellor, Stimson, Ashworth, Senior, Mapapalangi, Windley, Hall, Robb, Hirst, Laulu-Togaga’e, Dupree, Brown, T Sharpe, Sarbah.

Referee: James Vella (Sydney). Kick-off: Friday, 8pm.