Squad named for first home match

Castleford host Wigan at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle this Friday (7.45pm) and both sides will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins to kick-off the new campaign, with the Warriors defeating Warrington in Round 1 and the Tigers overcoming Toronto on Sunday.

However, the Tigers face a mounting injury list in the early rounds of the new campaign with George Griffin, Adam Milner and Tyla Hepi all missing the clash against Wigan with head knocks picked up in the win against the Wolfpack, whilst try-scorer Greg Eden is also not named having picked up a knee injury. The club can confirm that Peter Mata'utia did appeal his two-match suspension following the match against Toronto, however the suspension was upheld and he will miss the next two matches against Wigan and Catalans.

There is some positive news with Oliver Holmes in contention to feature against the Warriors and he is named in a youthful looking squad for this Friday’s fixture, which will see Brad Graham, Robbie Storey, Sam Hall, Brad Martin and 17-year-old England Youth full back Bailey Hodgson all competing to make their first team debuts.

Tickets for Friday’s game are available in club retail stores now or online at www.castlefordtigers.com/tickets.

Castleford Tigers 21-man squad vs Wigan Warriors

1. Jordan Rankin
2. Derrell Olpherts
4. Michael Shenton
6. Jake Trueman
7. Danny Richardson
8. Liam Watts
9. Paul McShane
10. Grant Millington
11. Oliver Holmes
14. Nathan Massey
18. Cheyse Blair
19. Daniel Smith
20. Junior Moors
21. James Clare
22. Jacques O’Neill
27. Lewis Peachey
28. Brad Graham
30. Robbie Storey
31. Brad Martin
32. Sam Hall
33. Bailey Hodgson

WATCH: Cheyse Blair is buzzing for the Tigers' first home match of the season, see what he had to say, for free, on Tigers TV.