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2024 Season Review: Castleford Tigers

6 Nov 2024

After a tricky start, Castleford Tigers found their feet under new head coach Craig Lingard in 2024.

The phrase transitional season has become an overused one in sporting circles, but the 2024 campaign was always likely to act as a stepping stone within a wider plan for the Tigers.

With Lingard handed a chance as a top fight coach following his impressive work with Batley Bulldogs, and a significant turnover of players both before and during the season, there was a definite element of laying foundations for the coming years.

A total of 15 league points and a tenth-placed finish was probably above par for many of the Tigers faithful, not least after a stuttering start that saw them lose their opening six matches while struggling to score points.

During the season, Cas also came within a try of top two Wigan and Hull KR in June, beat Salford in April, drew with fifth-placed Leigh and won away at St Helens, proving they could challenge anyone on their day.

Rowan Milnes = COLD ?

His winning kick for @CTRLFC ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/sNYr4yRojK
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 5, 2024

But it’s also fair to say that after three consecutive wins in July, just one more victory in their final nine matches – them Huddersfield - dampened part of improved mood that had built up around the club.

Fans have been supportive and understanding during the 2024 campaign, as the club outlined their three-year project, with the end goal of bringing in better quality players in to strengthen their 17 and extended squad.

2024 did see the Tigers unearth some impressive additions to the club who were featuring in Betfred Super League for the first time, including hard-working forwards Elie El-Zakhem and Liam Horne. They joined the ever-consistent pack leader Joe Westerman and Alex Mellor, who impressed whether at centre or back row, while winger Innes Senior was an ever present, the top try scorer and was in the top 10 in the league for metres and line breaks.

A FOURmidable @InnesSenior performance ?#SuperLeague
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 6, 2024

One of the most positive stories of the season surrounded forward George Lawler, who recovered from having seizures early in the season to return to playing after an extended period out. Initial scans had suggested that former Hull KR man Lawler had a small bleed on the brain. However, subsequent detailed scans and specialist neurosurgical reviews confirmed that there was no bleed or brain injury present, allowing him to finish the season.

At half-back, Jacob Miller and Rowan Milner guided the team around the field for the vast majority of the season, and Tex Hoy added an extra threat from full-back after joining mid-season from Hull FC.

There is also promise for the future in the shape of homegrown talents Cain Robb, Sam Hall, Jason Qareqare, George Hill, Akim Matvejev and Fletcher Rooney.

The club will be looking to continue their development and add additional experience elsewhere in the Tigers squad as it heads into the second of that three-year plan, with Danny McGuire now at the helm as their new head coach for 2025.

McGuire commented: "I am really excited and feel privileged to be given the opportunity to be Head Coach of Castleford Tigers. I am looking forward to a strong pre-season and getting the players ready to represent the Club and fans with pride."

Key Man

Back rower, Elie El-Zakhem, missed just two games, was the Tigers’ top tackler, their highest metre-making forward and made more than twice as many offloads as any other player.

Rising Star

The teenage outside back, Fletcher Rooney - son of former Wakefield, Featherstone and briefly Tigers halfback Jamie - broke into the team in the closing weeks of the season and showed plenty of promising signs.

Season Highlight

July’s 24-18 win over Catalans Dragons was Castleford’s third win on the bounce and illustrated the progress being made on the field. They had built some impressive momentum following wins over St Helens and London Broncos, and overall highlighted that they were capable of competing with teams up in the higher end.