Tigers trigger Griffin extension

Castleford Tigers has triggered a one-year extension of George Griffin’s contract, keeping him at the Club for the 2022 season.

The versatile forward joined the Tigers from the 2020 season and is in his second season with the Club, featuring in 16 matches to date, and is set to make his 150th Super League appearance in his next top-flight match.

Griffin is delighted to be remaining at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle for another year, declaring he feels very much at home with the Tigers.

“I’m over the moon, I am really happy here so to get my extra year is something I was looking forward to, pen to paper now so it’s sorted,” Griffin told castlefordtigers.com.

“The way the club is run, I get along really well with the boys here, it’s pretty local to all my family and I think I just fit into the mould of the Club quite well and the way we play. Obviously, there’s a few changes to staff next year but that just brings another dynamic and a new challenge ahead.”

As one of Castleford’s hard-working forwards in the middle of the pitch, Griffin has played as both a prop and a second-row, and he thoroughly enjoys his role within this Tigers team alongside his fellow forwards.

“I’ve never been the glamour player, but I work hard, and I think we have a lot of that here and that’s why we do pretty well. Massey and Macca (McShane) in the middle, we’re only going to build on that next year and hopefully play a lot with them and do something special.

“I think we complement each other well. I think we all work hard for each other and that’s the main thing if you can trust who is inside or outside of you then you go a long way as a team.”

The 28-year-old shares the same aim as everyone does at Castleford Tigers in 2021, to end Daryl Powell’s time at the Club with success, and Griffin paid tribute to his Head Coach saying: “He’s been great with me Powelly (Daryl Powell), he’s brought on my game a lot and to send him off on a high note would be great.”

Next season Griffin will be coached by Lee Radford, who coached George’s brother Josh during his time at Hull FC.

“I spoke to Josh who gets along really well with him and he said he is a class act. I’ve only spoken to him briefly before, but he seems good, he’s obviously a good coach with his record, with a couple of Cups under his belt and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Head Coach of Castleford Tigers in 2022, Lee Radford is excited to finally work with George Griffin and said: “I’ve obviously had the pleasure of working with George’s brother for a while and have a good relationship with him. I’ve previously had an interest in George when I was at Hull and to finally be able to work with him, I’m really looking forward to that.

“A real solid player, up and down, and what you see is what you get.”