Hull KR 26-10 Castleford: Robins claim first win of 2022 – talking points

Josh McAllister
Hull KR 26-10 Castleford

Hull KR claimed their first win of the season with a 26-10 victory over Castleford at Craven Park.

Elliot Minchella made his return and was named at loose forward by head coach Tony Smith for the hosts. Tom Garratt and Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e were named on the bench. 

For Castleford, Nathan Massey returned for his first appearance of the season named at prop. George Griffin, Cheyse Blair and Jordan Turner also all named in the starting 13.

There were more yellows as Bureta Faraimo was sent from the field on 17 minutes for a high shot on full-back Will Dagger.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall opens scoring

Centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall broke the deadlock on 21 minutes with the numerical advantage. A break through the middle from hooker Matt Parcell had Castleford on the back-foot. On the next play, quick hands from Mikey Lewis and Dagger found the former NRL centre, who dummied his way over for the first try of the fixture. 

Jordan Abdull couldn’t convert from out-wide for a 4-0 advantage for the hosts.

Following the try, Liam Watts was sent for 10 for a late and high shot on Lewis in the build-up. The half-back left the field for an head injury assessment, but returned later in the first half. 

With just 12-men on the field, Jordan Turner hit back for the Tigers. Despite the disadvantage, Turner found space crashing onto a ball from Jake Trueman to score his 100th Super League try. O’Brien converting to give Castleford a 6-4 lead.

Sam Wood restored the home side’s lead with his first try for Hull KR on 37 minutes. Veteran Brad Takairangi with an offload to Lewis, who found the former Huddersfield man unmarked on the wing to dive over. 

HT: Hull KR 8-6 Castleford

Wood crossed for his second on 51 minutes. Abdull went short from dummy-half to find the winger, who crashed through his opposite number to score. Abdull converted his first for a 14-6 lead.

Laulu-Togaga’e entered the field on 63 minutes for his debut and his side went under the sticks just seconds later through Parcell for a 20-6 score.

Just four minutes later, Takairangi did it all himself to cross for his second of the season against a deflated Castleford.

Faraimo hit back for the Tigers on 71 minutes, but it was too little too late with KR claiming their first win of the season.  

FT: Hull KR 26-10 Castleford

Hull KR: Dagger, Wood, Takairangi, Kenny-Dowall, Hall, Lewis, Abdull, Storton, Parcell, King, Halton, Linnett, Minchella.

Subs: Litten, Richards, Garratt, Laulu-Togaga’e

Tries: Kenny-Dowall, Wood (2), Parcell, Takairangi

Goals: Abdull 3

Castleford: Evalds, Faraimo, Fonua, Turner, Olpherts, Trueman, O’Brien, Massey, McShane, Griffin, Clair, Sutcliffe, Westerman.

Subs: Watts, Robb, Smith, Matagi.

Tries: Turner, Faraimo

Goals: Evalds 1

Talking points

More yellow cards

No doubt the talk amongst fans in the stands and in front of the screens will be on the yellow cards once again. Faraimo and Watts were sent from the field in the first half for high shots for the Tigers.

Ill-disciplined Castleford

Castleford have struggled with their discipline in the opening three weeks of the 2022 campaign. Lee Radford’s side were on the wrong end of the penalty counts against Salford and Warrington in rounds one and two respectively. With two yellow cards against Hull KR, is it something the squad need to work on?

First win for KR

Hull KR looked strong in their first win of the 2022 season. Lewis impressed once again, while Frankie Halton is having a solid start to his Super League career. Parcell also impressing for the Robins. 

Takairangi looked threatening with ball in hand, and it was good to see Minchella return to the field. 

Super League Castleford Tigers