Castleford Tigers in potential mid-season boost with Papua New Guinea star making England move

Castleford Tigers could receive a timely mid-season boost with the potential arrival of reported recruit Nixon Putt from Australia.

The National previously reported that the 27-year-old Papua New Guinea international had signed a two-year deal with Andy Last’s side from the 2024 campaign.

However, it has been suggested that Putt could be making the move immediately, having played his final game for the Central Queensland Capras in the Queensland Cup.

Putt’s reported final game for the side came in his homeland against the Papua New Guinea Hunters, with the hosts claiming a 14-8 victory.

Hull KR-bound Oliver Gildart also features for the Capras in the centres.

Putt, a back-rower, has made 116 appearances in the Queensland Cup, scoring 26 tries.

He has won 11 caps for Papua New Guinea since making his international debut in 2017. He has represented the Kumuls in the last two World Cups, and featured in every game for the side in the delayed 2021 tournament in England, including the quarter-final defeat to Shaun Wane’s side in Wigan.

His arrival at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle would be a timely boost, with just four points separating Castleford and Super League’s bottom side Wakefield following their recent win over Salford.

Castleford’s July fixtures include games against Leigh, Castleford and Hull KR, while they face Wakefield later in August in what could be a crunch match for both sides.

Wakefield claimed a 32-6 victory over Salford during Super League Round 17 to secure their second win of the season, and next face Wigan. They will also play Huddersfield and Warrington later this month.

Nixon Putt to fulfil ‘dream’

Putt has featured in the Queensland Cup for the last seven years, and was part of the PNG Hunters side that won the competition back in 2017.

Speaking to The National, Putt says his move to Super League completes a dream and he will become the fifth Papua New Guinea international in the division. Edwin Ipape and Lachlan Lam are currently playing for Leigh, with Nene Macdonald and Rhyse Martin both at Leeds.

Putt said: “I’ve been playing in the Hostplus Cup for seven years and it has always been my dream to play in the NRL or Super League and to finally achieve that is just a great feeling.”

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