2023 Castleford Tigers season

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.

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. They also 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 losing streak built 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 heavy loss to 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 at the home of 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.

Dual registration
Castleford also agreed dual registration arrangements with the Halifax Panthers in the Championship and the Midlands Hurricanes in League 1.


 * Sources: RLRKC – Halifax Panthers 2023 & RLRKC – Midlands Hurricanes 2023

Summary

 * Source: RLRKC – Castleford Tigers 2023