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

TheFirm

RaoulDuke Those props are plentiful in number but short on quality though. Westy (LF) and Lawler (SR) are better in other positions, Watts and Griffin very much on the downhill slope, Hall isn’t ready for regular SL rugby and probably would be better developing at a championship club for a year and Namo truly a rocks and diamonds player. Muzzy is one of life’s triers but just isn’t SL quality i’m afraid.

We need two front line props, one front line second row and one back up second row as well. Ideally a genuine backup halfback as well would be nice. How we manage that though god only knows.

Hepworth

I’ve higher hopes for Matveyev than Hall,both are ones for the future but will need game time. I’d agree on Lawler being a better second row but that would still leave us short in that area. We might like a couple of starting props and a second row but think one of each is more realistic, as for a back up half unless we went for someone in Morgan Smiths bracket (Not great but has SL experience and cheap)can’t see it happening. So much depends on that final quota spot. Use it on a prop and we’re most likely to get a cheaper second row option and visa versa.

RaoulDuke

I believe we have to play to our strengths.

Westy can’t do 80 so needs to be propping or rotating at 13. Horne needs to be on the field and we have Rimbu at 9 to rotate with Robb. That’s round pegs in round holes for me.

We do need props but for me second row is the priority as we have one out and out. Griffin was great at right second row for Salford but is getting on and is rather injury prone. Lawler looked OK on the left but Mellor was outstanding on that side last year. El-zakhem had the right position sewn up.

I guess we’ll find out in December who is available and go from there.

RaoulDuke

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers-chase-papua-new-30476623?fbclid=IwY2xjawG2X8tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRFt-ST-3p6fz9enYoQXo4lJtX2NefKfAePTpcmHogkRYQDDxZGYVZHXWQ_aem_3TSxYRs-BALGTspEYIkQAw

A back rower from Png in talks.

Hepworth

Not a name on many people’s radar and very little footage of him around,he’s a big enough unit with a decent try scoring record, wouldn’t look to be the most agile of second rows but he’s fit and has a decent injury record. Clearly someone thinks he’s worth a punt but something to prove at top level,be an interesting use of our last quota spot but would mean we would have to look at a domestic option if we were still in the market for a prop.

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.

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