The Morning After: Tough job interview, poor attacking record & transfer rumours

Josh McAllister
Jordan Turner, Castleford Tigers. SWPix

Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.

The Morning After looks at three talking points from the latest Super League action between Salford and Castleford. 

Poor attacking record

Slow, uninspiring and somewhat dull. It wasn’t a pretty performance for Castleford’s attacking display at the AJ Bell Stadium in their 14-6 defeat to Salford.

A planned play in the first half between Paul McShane, Jacob Miller and Niall Evalds summed up their attack in a nutshell.

The trio went for the same play that worked for so many years at Melbourne Storm between Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, usually ending in the latter bursting through a gap to race away between the markers. 

In Castleford’s case, the last pass didn’t even make it to full-back Evalds as the play panned out that slowly.

It’s not a good reflection on Castleford’s attacking backroom staff, one that includes former playmaker Scott Murrell.

The side have the second worst record for points scored with 96 in 2023, with only Wakefield having worse with just 47. 

Last’s job interview

Andy Last will undergo his official Castleford interview for the vacant head coach role on Friday, having filled in as interim boss since the departure of Lee Radford.

He currently holds a win record of 33% – two wins in six, picking up victories over Leeds and Wakefield.

All eyes were on Thursday night’s game for the current England assistant, and errors played their part in the game, although Last praised his side’s effort following the fixture in his post-match press conference.

“I can’t fault the lads’ effort,” he said.

“I thought the effort was sensational. We’re taking some really positive steps in terms of defence, we’re defending our try-line very well, but we’re just doing far too much of it.

“Unforced errors coming out of yardage, there was a period in that first half where we completed one out of six. And it always finds a way to come back and bite you.

“It came back to bite us just before half-time when they scored a try, and again in the last 15 where we just had no energy to get ourselves up the field and back playing with a bit more shape and playing with more passes.”

Last, 42, has made no secret of his desire to land the permanent role through his time as interim boss, with a somewhat nervy meeting ahead.

Potential transfers

Sky Sports pundit Jon Wells brought fans the latest ahead of the Round Nine clash at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Wells reported that Warrington are looking at a trio from the NRL as potential replacements for Thomas Mikaele, who left the club earlier this month on compassionate grounds to return to Australia, linking up with the Gold Coast Titans.

Meanwhile, French Elite star Dean Whare and NRL centre Oliver Gildart could be looking for returns to Super League, according to the Sky Sports man. 

He also reported that Salford have already completed two signings for 2024.

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Super League Castleford Tigers