League Leaders’ Shield and World Club Series await Castleford

James Gordon

The Betfred Super League Leaders’ Shield will be presented to Castleford at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Thursday if they manage at least a draw against Wakefield.

The Tigers just need to avoid defeat to claim the first league title in their 91-year history.

In a statement, the RFL confirmed that if they achieve that, then the silverware will be awarded on the night by RFL chairman Brian Barwick and Betfred’s Head of Communications, Mark Pearson.

Tigers prop Grant Millington told the club’s official website: “It’s been 91 years that the club has been waiting to finish top of the League, it’s never been done before.

“For us to manage that and give something like that to those supporters of this club who have never really had anything like that before would be fantastic.

“This is not just for us, obviously you want to win trophies as an individual and as a team but this is for the community of Castleford and I think they really deserve it.”

The shield winners will also receive £100,000 prize money and automatically qualify for the 2018 Dacia World Club Series.

Details for next year’s World Club Series are yet to be announced.

Both Hull and Wigan are playing a Super League fixture Down Under in the early weeks of the season, but will both return in time to participate, should they qualify.