Castleford Tigers: Dissecting which overseas player could be released for latest Papua New Guinea recruit
One player will be forced to move on from Castleford Tigers following the latest signing of Papua New Guinea international Liam Horne.
The 26-year-old makes the switch from Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup, having made 14 appearances and scoring nine tries in the current campaign.
He joins on a one-and-a-half-year deal, with the option of a further season in the club’s favour.
It’s a boost for Andy Last’s forward pack in their bid for Super League survival, with just two points separating them and Wakefield Trinity at the bottom of the table.
However, the new signing means one Castleford Tigers overseas player will be forced to move on for the arrival of the utility forward.
Super League sides are only allowed seven overseas quota spots, with Castleford currently utilising all of theirs with Mahe Fonua, Bureta Faraimo, Jacob Miller, Kenny Edwards, Albert Vete, Suaia Matagi and new signing Billy Tsikrikas.
Who will Castleford Tigers release?
Edwards signed a new three-year extension with the Mend-A-Hose Jungle outfit in June 2022, which would likely rule him out of the running.
The back-rower has missed just one game in Super League for Castleford in 2023, having initially signed from Huddersfield in 2022.
Prop forward Vete made the switch from Hull KR ahead of this year’s kick-off and has one year remaining on his contract.
The former Tonga international has made eight appearances in his debut season, and has also spent time on loan with Featherstone in the Championship under Sean Long this year.
Vete, 30, has somewhat failed to make his mark at Castleford, and could be on the likely list, although he did most recently feature in the Super League defeat to Hull FC earlier this month at the MKM Stadium.
Half-back Miller looks to be going nowhere after signing from Wakefield upon the end of 2022 on a long-term deal to partner Gareth Widdop in the halves.
Another on the likely list could be duo Fonua or Matagi, who have each made 10 Super League appearances in 2023.
Given the recent recruitments of Alex Foster, Greece international Tsikrikas and Horne, you would expect a forward to depart the club to make way for the latest signing.
However, talk on social media is that outside-back Fonua is the player who has been released from his contract to make way for Horne.
Winger Faraimo, outside-back Fonua and 35-year-old Matagi are all in their last year of their respective contracts at Castleford.
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