Not even a few rumours, unless you lot know better CTID

Deafening silence isn’t there. Cini the only one we know for sure. I was fairly confident 2 of our reserve/academy players were going to get squad numbers for next season, but we’ve had a change of ownership and coach since I heard that. Same goes for Rimbu and Asi,deals looked done and dusted. Even if all the above does happen we’d still be down on numbers from last season,I could see the benefits of holding off on a couple as things evolve but I’d think there would be three possibly four others we’re not even aware of yet. I’m sure DM will have players in mind too,all adds to the interest but also to the frustration. No doubt news will come when season ticket sales need a boost.

The players aren’t back in yet so there’s no rush to announce who we’ve signed. There’s paperwork and lots to sort for players coming from the other side of the world, which should have been competed for Asi and Rimbu. But Rimbu is currently playing intern 9 fixtures so will get extra time off. I can’t see the overseas players coming over until the new year or back and December. Don’t fret, surely we have faith in Mr Jepson and DM to deliver, otherwise why would they put themselves on the chopping block?

whatever your views are on how, when, who we sign, I cannot fathom out at all why ALL other clubs are announcing new players but Cas aren’t. This view is further exacerbated by te fact we had huge momentum in the press last week. New owner and new coach, perfct opportunity to build interest in not only our own fans but the media, new investors and so on. It makes absolutely no sense to me at all that we may be dleaying announcements by choice.

FlatCapper I agree. Everything was good, grade A, new owner, new coach, memberships and shirts on sale. That was the perfect time to strike whilst the iron was hot. The balloon has now started to deflate somewhat with the lack of player announcements. I can only think they what to go with a rapid fire approach and announce them all at once, otherwise it makes no sense.

I think they’ll do what they’ve done before. One on Monday one on Tuesday and so forth until all are announced. Not sure why they are waiting so long to do it. That’s the strange one.

Delaney just announced by the club.

Was a significant reason Rovers defence improved so much,hopefully he can achieve similar results for us.

As much as our defence was iffy at times. My main worry is the inability to score more than 2 tries per game, bar ⅔ games. Not sure if McGuire now he is head coach will put more of his ideas into attack. Let’s wait and see.

Our new coaches and players clearly need to eke out some improvement next season,target must be to secure a higher place finish and better performances should result in higher attendances,great for the club and IMG. Statistically between attack and defence a 12 point nett gain would see us comfortably in mid table. Like most I would like to see that gain made by free flowing attacking rugby but if it comes from digging in when it’s needed I’d be equally happy with that.

Lots of socials saying we have signed Rhimbu, including Aussie based ones that state he was wanted by a number of teams down under but had signed for us.

ALL QUIET ON THE SIGNINGS FRONT

orrsome

What happened to the Oledzki rumour?

RaoulDuke

He comes off contract after the 2025 season and clubs can make contact with his representatives from today. That’s the same for any player ooc at the end of the year.

It’ll be his agent putting his name out there. Leeds will pay big money to get him to resign.

Hepworth

Asi is apparently on his way so our Pacific island contingent is growing, going to be quite the culture shock for all these guys,hopefully they can be a tight knit little group and help each other settle. When they run out together in Sub-tropical Hull in February……🥶🥶🥶

Hepworth

I see Simbiken signing has been confirmed, reports I’ve seen are positive and we were looking short in the second row.

RaoulDuke

He looks a good signing all told. Still a bit short of cover at second row for me but Lawler can cover and look out during the season.

Hepworth

I think Back row is Lawlers preferred position and where he’s been most effective during his career. I was told a couple of weeks ago there would be a prop and second row arriving,now Simbiken has taken the second row and final quota spot I believe we are still looking at another prop.

TheFirm

Hepworth Agree about Lawler which makes the need for that first 17 quality prop even more important. To be honest in an ideal world we’d probably get two but that is very much wishful thinking. With that i agree with the earlier poster that we could do with a bit more second row cover as there is every chance Lawler will have to play in the middle this year at certain points. That only really leaves Mellor & Simbakin.

Wouldn’t mind a back up halfback as well, can’t say i’m a fan of one injury weakening two positions by moving other players around.

pirate

The squad is shaping up nicely and if we can avoid a few injuries I can see a top 8 finish comfortably

CTID

Maturecasfan

pirate

Agree it’s nice to see players now being signed.
Not sure about top 8.

I’ve been a cas fan to long to get excited.
I’ll see how our first 5 games go.
Could take that long for the new boys to blend.
We’ll see.

Hepworth

TheFirm Plenty of interesting permutations and all we know for certain is that we will be fishing in the domestic pond. ⅔ of our academy/reserves will be a part of the first team squad next season I understand but will obviously lack experience. I’m still expecting another prop though first 17 ready would be debatable,who is there available that fits the bill? I do find it interesting that when you look at people’s posts on the forums the Seniors are seen as our first choice wingers with Qareqare left out,similarly Cini’s arrival seeing Simms being pushed downward,still think he has something to offer. Squad number announcement could give us a clue.

FlatCapper

I’ll be really (pleasantly) surprised if we sign anyone before season’s start so I’m going with what we already have. I’m equally disappointed we haven’t signed a true out-and-out, hard hitting, big, prop.

Other than 2017, which surprised us all, I think we’re pretty good at forecasting the season ahead and I can see another 9/t10th spot on the horizon. A few more wins, maybe but nothing spectacular.

Hepworth

Yes I’d agree with that,top four or five will be the usual suspects with Wigan at the head of the pack,in the bottom half of the table I can see it being much tighter with no team really being cut adrift. Hull can’t be as bad as last season and have a virtually new side but not top half for me,Huddersfield and ourselves look destined for the bottom half,Salford have some talent in the ranks but it’s an ageing talent and even without their money worries I think it would be a season too many for some. Even with their new look side I think Wakey will lose more than they win,so that would be my bottom five. No doubt one team will underperform and one do the reverse but I do sense we won’t see as many blowouts as we did last season.

RaoulDuke

https://www.totalrl.com/castleford-tigers-forward-leaves-super-league-club/

Hudson out and okoro in, we are led to believe.

You get the feeling the Hudson deal was pre maguire and hasn’t impressed.

RaoulDuke

People are bemoaning the lack of depth in the squad but more and more players are being released. Might have been a good strategy.

Hepworth

RaoulDuke I’ve seen some of the comments regarding the squad being weaker but I honestly don’t see that,our new signings look to be an improvement on those who have left and a fit Simms and Wood will help no end. And if we bought into the three year plan then the likes of Windley,Hall and Matveyev getting first team experience will have helped their development. Okoro coming in for Hudson for me changes nothing,both were/are projects,clearly the coaching staff see Okoro as the better option and they are best placed to judge,we may indeed be down on numbers and that might come back and bite us,but at this stage I’m happy to see how the early season plays out.

TheFirm

Okoro is maybe a bit closer to being ‘super league ready’ than Hudson but it’s much of a muchness really. The jury is out on the other signings for me. On paper they could be better but only really Asi has any real experience of top level rugby week in week out. You’d like to think he’d be more effective than Miller though. Rimba looks good on the highlights but has McShane-sized boots to fill who over his career with us was inspirational. Not so much on the field last year but he was still a big figure around the club. Simbakin could be anything but he is replacing El Zakhem who was pretty good for us last year. Cini doesn’t come particularly highly rated from his previous clubs fans so could go either way. We could surprise a few people if they all hit their straps, alternatively there are an awful lot of question marks there. And we still need at least one if not two good quality props in my opinion to be competitive.

Hepworth

TheFirm Replacing Macca a tall order,players like him don’t come around every day. I’m hoping that what the Hudson decision shows is the club are prepared to make decisions quickly when needed,too often in the past we’ve carried players who haven’t really contributed to the squad or had the potential to develop,Vete was a prime example. As with Lingard they don’t seem afraid to move people on if they don’t seem to have what it takes. I would have liked to see a statement signing,something that would show the club’s intentions and enthuse the fans but still its early days in Jepsons reign and so far he’s been a massive and positive influence on the club.

RaoulDuke

Macca is a big loss but not from last years injury and form. He’s been replaced by 3 players in Rimbu, Horne and Robb. I’m happy we’re stronger.

Asi looks a real talent, after miller’s bad year, it surely can’t be worse.

Loved El-zakhem but with his mate tsipale leaving the writing was on the wall. The new lad is bigger and can make the right second row his own.

We’ve been wanting a centre and Cini looks good. I know he can’t be worse than Hall.

Overall we need second row and halfback cover for me

TheFirm

RaoulDuke And a SL level prop.

Hepworth

Harvey Livett been released by Huddersfield and could do a job, Scott Murrell sees Matvejev as a potential second row/Loose forward eventually so maybe he’ll get some game time. A back up half a head scratcher though,can’t think of one who’d want to come as fourth choice. A lots been made of the number of youngsters in our squad but a trawl through all the other squads announced would say we’re not alone with the balance we have. Only Wire and perhaps Wakey have any real experience outside the top 25.

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