'Utmost respect': Ryan Carr puts Castleford Tigers on full alert to avoid Challenge Cup upset v Doncaster

Tigers begin their season with a third round tie at Betfred Championship outfit Doncaster tomorrow (Saturday), two days short of a year after being knocked out of the competition at the same stage by then-lower division Bradford Bulls. Of the team on duty that day, only Daejarn Asi, George Lawler, Joe Westerman and Fletcher Rooney are in the 21-man squad to face Doncaster - and Muizz Mustapha is in the opposition ranks.

Castleford’s lineup looks much stronger this time, but while that’s obviously a bonus, new boss Carr accepts it will take a while for them to gel, making the season-opener a tricky fixture. The Aussie, who had a season in the Championship as coach of Featherstone Rovers in 2019, insisted: “I’ve watched all the games Doncaster have had this season and we are going to treat them with the utmost respect.

“They are a really good outfit and they’ve recruited well in the off-season. They are well-drilled and we are in for a really tough game. All we can do is control what we can control, which is how we play the game. Our boys are really excited to get out there and play. Barring injuries we will have a full deck and it’s a good chance to get out there and play together.”

Carr accepts his new-look team are a work in progress. He added: “We had a good hit out against St Helens and we took a lot out of that game, a lot of positives and a lot of learnings. We are sort of developing as we go; where we are this week is not where we are going to be in week 17 or 18.

“We are definitely going to grow as the season goes on, but we’re not in a position where we can take our time. We have got to get there quickly, we know that, but the type of footy we play in the first few weeks will look a lot different to the type of footy we play in the back end of the season.

“The style of footy we play will grow and evolve as combinations evolve, but we are well aware of where we’re at at the moment and we need to make sure we put our best foot forward against Doncaster. We are one day at a time and one game at a time - we are just really focused on trying to play our best footy as a group right now and we are chasing a really good performance this week.”

Tigers face a blockbuster opening to Betfred Super League next Sunday when Wigan Warriors visit OneBore Stadium. “It’s a good start,” Carr stated. “We’ve got a game at home which I am excited about for our home fans.

“A lot has happened at the ground and a lot of time and money has been spent around Cas. I am excited for our town and community to have some footy to watch and get out and support us. Hopefully we can create a really hostile atmosphere. That’s what we are building towards and if we can pack it out it’s going to give us the best chance to play well.”

Doncaster: from Holmes, Hey, Lyne, Briscoe, Aston, Robinson, Knowles, Burns, Sutcliffe, McConnell, Pauli, Mustapha, Gebi, Jones, Miski, Hepi, Johnson, Glover, Boas, Springer, Gwaze.

Castleford Tigers: from Taafee, McIntosh, Ravalawa, Asi, Weaver, Atoni, Hood, Lawler, Lane, Mellor, Stimson, Greacen, Westerman, Atkin, Rooney, Singleton, Qareqare, Mapapalangi, Windley, Hall, Beckett.

Referee: Tom Grant (Leeds). Kick-off: Saturday, 2pm.