Tigers confirm Evalds capture

The exciting full back will move to the Tigers on an initial one-year contract for the 2021 season after spending his full career so far at Salford Red Devils where he holds the club’s all-time Super League try-scoring record and played a leading role in his side’s incredible run to the Grand Final last season.

With 100 tries to his name at an average of two in every three games at club level, Evalds has already been capped by the England Knights and was earlier this year called up for an initial meeting with the England senior squad ahead of next year’s Rugby League World Cup under new boss Shaun Wane.

After completing the 2020 campaign with the Red Devils, Evalds will now make the switch to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle where he will form part of an exciting and all-English spine alongside Paul McShane, Danny Richardson and Jake Trueman.

Niall will be sponsored next season by London-based Ergo Real Estate, a new commercial partner for the Tigers, and he told www.castlefordtigers.com: “I’ve still got a job to do with Salford this season but it’s going to be an exciting year for me next year.

“I’ve been at Salford a long time so this was an opportunity to take up a new challenge at Cas and have to prove myself all over again. I had a phone conversation with Powelly and he spoke about what he expected from me and what he thought the club and himself could offer me personally, hopefully helping me with the international scene and things like that.

“It just appealed to me and the way Castleford play will suit me down to the ground. There’s some quality players over there and a few I’ve played with before, so it’s an exciting move all round.

“Hopefully next year when the crowds are back in I can make my debut at The Jungle and it will be nice to have the crowd there on my side rather than getting booed! I’m excited to see you all, excited to play in front of you all and I hope for all the success with the team next year. I’ll be doing everything I can to make that happen, as will the rest of the team.”

Head coach Daryl Powell added: “Niall is such a high-quality player with a real instinct for rugby league. He gets on the end of things and he’s got real pace, which we saw last year when he ran down Jordan Rankin to stop him scoring in the play-off match. That was a pivotal moment in the game and showed that Niall can do special things with and without the ball.

“He scores great tries, his passing game has improved and we think we can help him to play international football. He’s obviously improved significantly at Salford and we think we can help him go to the next level again, so we’re delighted he’s agreed to come to us.

“Full back is such a key position now in a rugby league team which makes this an important signing for us.”

Tigers’ Director of Rugby, Jon Wells, said: “I am delighted that the Castleford Tigers can announce the signing of Niall for the 2021 season. In my opinion, he is one of the best full backs in Super League and his signature was the culmination of a great deal of work by all parties over a number of months.

“He will fit into our systems and style of play very well and I hope he will form part of the spine of our team for many years to come.

“I would like to place on record the hard work and patience shown by Niall’s agent, Iestyn Harris, during a protracted period of uncertainty; the belief by the club placed in the coaching team in the identification and negotiation of the deal and Niall himself for the professionalism he has shown at a really critical time for him in his career. I can’t wait to have him on board."