Testimonial star Brad Singleton talks Leeds Rhinos' greatest team & why Castleford Tigers are on the up
History-maker Brad Singleton has outlined the secret of Leeds Rhinos success during his time there and why he thinks Castleford Tigers have “turned a corner” ahead of his testimonial meeting between the sides this weekend.
Singleton made his first team debut for Rhinos in a win against Salford Red Devils on March 11, 2011. During 178 appearances for Leeds he won the treble in 2015 and another Grand Final two years later.
After leaving Rhinos at the end of 2019, the Cumbrian prop had spells with Toronto Wolfpack and Wigan Warriors before joining Salford in 2023. He moved to Tigers midway through last year. His testimonial game against Rhinos at OneBore Stadium, Wheldon Road, is Tigers’ first match under new coach Ryan Carr, after previous trials against Featherstone Rovers and Oldham were called off. “There’s nothing better than Leeds playing Castleford at Castleford,” Singleton said. “I am really excited for it, it was great for me to get Leeds - I’ve got a lot of love for Leeds, they took me on a journey and I’m really happy to be playing for Cas against Leeds in my testimonial.”
The benefit has been awarded for Singleton’s services to rugby league. He reflected: “It is a fantastic sport, it has given me everything. I hope kids still dream of getting to Super League and having a great career. For me, it has been an amazing journey.
“My career highlight is probably the first trophy I won, when we beat Hull KR in the Challenge Cup final in 2015. That led on to the treble and you look back and see that doesn’t get replicated much.
“I know Hull KR have just managed to do it, but it was a very special journey that year and the way we won it - the league leaders’ shield, with the helicopter and Ryan Hall’s try and the comeback in the Grand Final against Wigan and beating Hull KR 50-0 at Wembley - I don’t think will ever be repeated in that fashion.
“That side, in my biased view, I think is one of the best Super League has ever had. What set us apart was personalities, the leaders among us, the different characters and the adaptability of the side. I think if you put that team against anyone, they’d work out a way to win.”
There’s more Singleton wants to achieve in the sport and the 33-year-old reckons he’s at a club now heading in the right direction after some tough years. He said: “I am really content with where I’m at. I still love my rugby and I am still a competitor.
“I am in a great team with Cas who I feel have turned a corner this year. It’s their centenary year, they’ve got a new badge, a new team and a new coach and it’s a very exciting year.”
Of Carr, Singleton enthused: “He has been great, he has nailed this pre-season. He is very good at delivering a message, how he speaks to the boys is really good.
“He has got us all on board and it is really exciting. We don’t fully know our identity yet because we haven’t been in the trenches with each other, but it has been a great pre-season and we are fully prepared, excited and quietly confident in how we are going.”
Singleton’s deal with Tigers is until the end of 2026, but he has no immediate plans to hang up his boots. He added: “This is the first time ever I’ve entered my final year. I think it’s a case of just enjoying it and taking each game as it is and then it looks after itself. If, at the end of the year, I am going well and feeling great, I’ll go round again. If that’s not the case, I’m sure there’ll be other options.”