Castleford Tigers Consider Recruitment Option After Injury Setback

By Peter Githua Wanene

The Castleford Tigers squad faces back-row difficulties after Jeremiah Simbiken hurt his knee in the team's recent win over the Huddersfield Giants. The Papua New Guinean player needs surgery and will miss 12 weeks of playing due to his knee injury.

Castleford Tigers will be forced to search for new players because head coach Danny McGuire feels his squad lacks players in the back-row position.

"I don't want to jump the gun medically, but it's going to be a lengthy one," McGuire said in a press statement. He (Jeremiah) is having an operation in a couple of weeks, and we'll have to reassess it from that," McGuire added. "I'd say 12 weeks, best case scenario, I'm being told – and that's best-case." The coach also pointed out the squad's limited options: "Mells (Alex Mellor) is our only back-rower in the squad."

McGuire plans to fill the opening with his existing players, including George Lawler and Joe Westerman. Yet he understands that our permanent choice must consider a new player signing. McGuire stated that his team has sufficient players to step in that spot. The squad needs an expert back-row player to last through the rest of the season.

The club recently added Tom Amone, Hugo Salabio, Brad Singleton, and Chris Atkin. Yet, with the injury crisis affecting the back row, McGuire indicated that recruitment might still be necessary. "It potentially might be something we look at. I'll have to see if that's possible," McGuire concluded, leaving the door open for further player acquisitions.

The Castleford Rugby League management must decide how to approach the Wakefield Trinity match without previous players to play at Magic Weekend. Team management must decide on short-term actions and long-term recruiting plans to handle present challenges.