The 2023 season was the Castleford Tigers' 98th season in the Rugby Football League and their 16th consecutive season in the top flight of English rugby league. The club competed in the 2023 Super League and the 2023 Challenge Cup.
Castleford began the season under head coach Lee Radford, before he was sacked in March and replaced by his assistant Andy Last. Last himself was dismissed after five months in charge, with Danny Ward appointed for the remainder of the campaign. The team was captained by Paul McShane, with Joe Westerman as interim in his absence. They finished the Super League season in 11th place, narrowly surviving a relegation battle with Wakefield.
Season overview Having finished the 2022 season in 7th place, falling short of play-off qualification on the final day, Castleford recruited high-profile signings including Gareth Widdop, Jacob Miller and Albert Vete. Going into Lee Radford's second year as head coach, expectations were mixed: a new-look spine was an enticing prospect, however the Tigers squad also had the league's highest average age.
Pre-season preparations were beset by coaching absences and disorganised, leaving the team on the back foot according to senior players Jordan Turner and Kenny Edwards. In a poor start to the season, Castleford fell to defeats against Hull FC and St Helens. A heavy loss to Wigan in round 3 proved a tipping point, with Radford relieved of his first-team duties on 6 March. Assistant coach Andy Last took charge of the team on an interim basis, while the club began a recruitment process for a permanent successor. Centre Jake Mamo also departed the squad on 15 March after announcing his retirement.
The Tigers registered their first win of the season in round 5 against the Leeds Rhinos, in between miserable losses to Huddersfield and Warrington. After a further defeat away to Catalans, they secured a Rivals Round victory over Wakefield. On 19 April, after overseeing two wins from six matches in charge, Last was appointed full-time head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Castleford came close against Salford and Hull KR, but ultimately entered into a six-match losing streak, including elimination from the Challenge Cup at the first time of asking in front of a decade-low home crowd. In May, Craig Lingard was appointed as an assistant coach to Last.
The Magic Weekend provided the occasion of their third victory, with Qareqare's try and Widdop's conversion completing a comeback over Leeds. A large loss to Salford followed, with captain Paul McShane's season ended by a fractured forearm, although the Tigers consolidated with a win over out-of-form Warrington. Positioned 11th in the table and with bottom placed Wakefield picking up form, another lengthy losing streak began to build up the pressure on Castleford. A host of signings, including Liam Horne, Charbel Tasipale and Blake Austin, aimed to turn the tide back in Cas' favour - however, on 4 August, a comprehensive loss against Huddersfield sent the Tigers bottom on points difference, with a number of fans staging a protest. That evening, the club announced that Last would depart with immediate effect.
On 9 August, Castleford confirmed the appointment of Danny Ward as head coach on a deal until the end of the season, with Dane Dorahy joining as an assistant. The first fixture under the new staff saw a huge clash away at relegation rivals Wakefield, billed as the repeat of the 2006 'Battle of Belle Vue'. The Tigers started as underdogs but fought to a vital 28–12 victory, with Greg Eden scoring a hat-trick. Now with the upper hand, a win against Hull FC in Castleford's final home game all but guaranteed survival. Despite sustaining extremely heavy defeats against Warrington, Wigan and Leeds in the closing rounds, Castleford confirmed an 11th-placed finish, consigning Wakefield to the Championship and bringing a close to a disastrous and disappointing season. Joe Westerman was named both Castleford Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, and Jason Qareqare won a third consecutive Try of the Season award.
First-team squad
Transfers and loans
Transfers in
Player From Contract Date Ref.19 Albert Vete Hull Kingston Rovers2 years23 September 202220 Muizz Mustapha Leeds Rhinos1 year3 October 20227 Jacob Miller Wakefield Trinity3 years4 October 20226 Gareth Widdop Warrington Wolves2 years6 October 202217 Jack Broadbent Leeds Rhinos2 years2 December 202230 Jacob Hookem Hull FC1 year8 December 202227 Bailey Dawson Hull Kingston Rovers1 year10 December 202239 Will Tate Hull Kingston Rovers2½ years9 April 2023— Jacques O'NeillUnaffiliated½ year20 April 202345 Liam Horne Norths Devils1½ years24 July 202344 Charbel Tasipale Newtown Jets1½ years26 July 2023
Loans in
Player From Loan type Arrival Return Ref.38 Luis Johnson Hull Kingston RoversSeason long, two-week recall2 April 202316 May 202340 Riley Dean Warrington WolvesSeason-long, two-week recall13 June 20231 August 202341 Jordan Johnstone Widnes VikingsSeason-long4 July 202323 September 202342 Alex Foster Newcastle ThunderSeason-long20 July 202323 September 202343 Billy Tsikrikas Canterbury BulldogsSeason-long20 July 202323 September 202346 Blake Austin Leeds RhinosSeason-long3 August 202323 September 2023
Transfers out Player To Contract Date Ref.6 Jake Trueman Hull FC3 years6 July 20222 Derrell Olpherts Leeds Rhinos2 years26 August 202220 James Clare colspan=2 26 August 202224 Cheyse Blair colspan=2 26 August 202226 Ryan Hampshire Wigan Warriors1 year26 August 202230 Sosaia Feki colspan=2 26 August 202227 Lewis Peachey Sheffield Eagles3 years20 September 202231 Gareth O'Brien Leigh Leopards2 years20 October 202221 Jake Mamo colspan="2" 15 March 202322 Daniel Smith Featherstone Rovers½ year22 May 202318 Callum McLelland Midlands Hurricanes1 year21 June 20234 Mahe Fonua Doncaster½ year25 July 20235 Bureta Faraimo Doncaster½ year25 July 2023
Loans out
Player To Loan type Departure Return Ref.19 Albert Vete Featherstone RoversTwo-week5 April 202319 April 202331 Jason Qareqare Bradford BullsTwo-week, rolling20 April 20232 June 202322 Daniel Smith Featherstone RoversTwo-week3 May 202316 Adam Milner Huddersfield GiantsSeason-long25 May 202327 Bailey Dawson WhitehavenTwo-week, rolling30 June 202314 July 202334 George Hill WhitehavenTwo-week, rolling30 June 202327 September 2023— Will Groves WhitehavenTwo-week, rolling15 July 202327 September 202319 Albert Vete DoncasterSeason-long, two-week recall27 July 202325 September 202324 Cain Robb Swinton LionsSeason-long, recall3 August 20234 September 202315 Alex Sutcliffe Halifax PanthersSeason-long4 August 202325 September 2023— Jacques O'Neill Sheffield EaglesTwo-week, rolling15 August 202329 August 2023
Dual registration
Castleford also agreed dual registration arrangements with the Halifax Panthers in the Championship and the Midlands Hurricanes in League 1.
Club Player Halifax Panthers 4 Mahe Fonua 1 0 0 0 0 23 Suaia Matagi 1 0 0 0 0 22 Daniel Smith 1 0 0 0 0 15 Alex Sutcliffe 1 0 0 0 0 Midlands Hurricanes 27 Bailey Dawson 9 4 0 0 16 28 Sam Hall 1 0 0 0 0 30 Jacob Hookem 9 2 17 0 42 25 Brad Martin 3 2 0 0 8 — Courage Mhuklani 2 0 0 0 0 — Scott Murrell 2 0 0 0 0 31 Jason Qareqare 2 0 0 0 0 26 Elliot Wallis 3 3 0 0 12 33 Aaron Willis 14 2 0 0 8
Sources: RLRKC – Halifax Panthers 2023 & RLRKC – Midlands Hurricanes 2023
Pre-season friendlies
Date Opposition H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Source Sat 31 December Featherstone Rovers A Post Office Road 10–26 Wallis, Broadbent Hookem (1/2) Sun 22 January Keighley Cougars A Cougar Park P–P Sun 29 January Whitehaven R.L.F.C. A LEL Arena 38–4 Faraimo (2), Broadbent (2), Mellor, Mamo, Lawler Hookem (5/7) Sun 5 February Huddersfield Giants H Wheldon Road 48–10 Mellor, McShane (2), Faraimo (3), Fonua (2), Vete Widdop (5/8), Massey (1/1)
Super League
Results
Date Round Opposition H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Drop goals Attendance Source Sun 19 February 1 Hull FC A MKM Stadium 30–32 Faraimo (2), Edwards, Miller, Mamo Widdop (5/5) 15,383 Sun 26 February 2 St Helens H Wheldon Road 6–24 Broadbent Widdop (1/1) 10,042 Fri 3 March 3 Wigan Warriors H Wheldon Road 0–36 7,565 Fri 10 March 4 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium 6–36 Lawler Widdop (1/1) 4,071 Thu 16 March 5 Leeds Rhinos H Wheldon Road 14–8 Faraimo (2) Widdop (3/4) 7,458 Fri 24 March 6 Warrington Wolves H Wheldon Road 0–38 7,348 Sat 1 April 7 Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus 18–22 Broadbent (2), Turner McShane (3/3) 8,109 Thu 6 April 8 Wakefield Trinity H Wheldon Road 16–4 McShane, Eden (2) McShane (2/3) 8,075 Thu 13 April 9 Salford Red Devils A AJ Bell Stadium 6–14 Eden Widdop (1/1) 4,468 Fri 21 April 10 Hull KR H Wheldon Road 7–12 Miller McShane (1/1) Miller 7,110 Fri 5 May 11 Leigh Leopards A Leigh Sports Village 6–30 Westerman Widdop (1/1) 5,423 Fri 12 May 12 Catalans Dragons H Wheldon Road 22–46 Mellor (2), Faraimo (2) Widdop (1/1), McShane (2/3) 5,788 Fri 26 May 13 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium 4–20 Mellor Widdop (0/1) 4,206 Sat 3 June 14 Leeds Rhinos N St James' Park 26–24 Miller, Wallis, Mellor (2), Qareqare Widdop (3/5) 36,943 Fri 9 June 15 Salford Red Devils H Wheldon Road 10–42 Qareqare, Edwards Widdop (1/2) 6,354 Fri 23 June 16 Warrington Wolves H Wheldon Road 23–14 Tate, Qareqare, Broadbent Widdop (5/7) Widdop 6,066 Fri 30 June 17 St Helens A Totally Wicked Stadium 0–22 11,488 Fri 7 July 18 Leigh Leopards H Wheldon Road 16–34 Widdop, Wallis (2) Widdop (2/3) 6,344 Sat 15 July 19 Hull FC A MKM Stadium 18–36 Wallis, Broadbent, Faraimo Widdop (3/4) 12,352 Fri 28 July 20 Hull KR A Craven Park 16–34 Tate, Broadbent, Eden Dean (2/3) 8,800 Fri 4 August 21 Huddersfield Giants H Wheldon Road 0–28 6,452 Fri 18 August 22 Wakefield Trinity A Belle Vue 28–12 Tasipale, Eden (3), Foster Widdop (4/6) 4,710 Fri 25 August 23 St Helens H Wheldon Road 4–34 Turner Widdop (0/1) 6,668 Sat 2 September 24 Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium 12–66 Hall, Eden Widdop (2/2) 9,103 Fri 8 September 25 Hull FC H Wheldon Road 29–12 Qareqare (2), Eden, Foster, Turner Widdop (4/6) Austin 7,947 Fri 15 September 26 Wigan Warriors A DW Stadium 6–48 Qareqare Austin (1/1) 13,109 Fri 22 September 27 Leeds Rhinos A Headingley Stadium 0–46 15,109
League table
Results summary
Head coachOverallHomeAway Lee Radford 3 0 3 36 92 -56 2 0 2 6 60 -54 1 0 1 30 32 -2 Andy Last 18 4 14 208 464 -256 9 3 6 108 226 -118 8 0 8 74 214 -140 Danny Ward 6 2 4 79 218 -139 2 1 1 33 46 -13 4 1 3 46 172 -126Total 27 6 21 323 774 -451 13 4 9 147 332 -185 13 1 12 150 418 -268
Challenge Cup
Results
Date Round Opposition H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Drop goals Attendance Source Sun 21 May 6 Hull FC H Wheldon Road 8–32 Fonua, Tate McShane (0/1), Hookem (0/1) 4,249
Player statistics
Summary