Trueman to leave Tigers at end of 2022

Castleford Tigers can today confirm that halfback Jake Trueman has played his last match for the club following an ACL injury which will rule him out for the remainder of the 2022 Betfred Super League season, and he will be leaving the Tigers at the end of the campaign.

The Fords’ #6 picked up the knock in last Friday night’s game against Huddersfield Giants which forced him to come off the field, following a scan this week it has been confirmed as a long-term ACL injury.

Trueman joined the Tigers aged just 17 from Bradford Bulls in January 2017 and working alongside our Academy he continued his development before making his Super League debut in June that year. Clearly, a young star to watch, he would go on to register a hat-trick in his second top-flight match.

Across six seasons, Trueman has gone on to make 103 appearances and score 32 times for the Fords. The now 23-year-old has picked up some honours along the way including Super League’s Young Player of the Year award in 2018, being named in the England Knights and England senior performance squads, playing for England 9s in the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s tournament, and was in the travelling squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour.

A back injury has sadly frustrated and limited Jake’s game time in the previous two seasons, but up until this point Trueman had been ever-present in 2022, even scoring on what would turn out to be his final game for Castleford Tigers last Friday night.

Discussing the news of his injury Jake Trueman told castlefordtigers.com: “I’m gutted, I’ve been looking forward to the rest of the year knowing it was my last year with Cas, looking forward to playing with the boys and hopefully getting in the playoffs and having a good crack at trying to win something. It’s pretty gutting.

“Even more so I think I’ve been getting back to real full fitness the past three or four weeks from my back injury, feeling like I’m getting full speed and full strength back, then this happens.”

Due to this injury, it does mean that Trueman has unfortunately played his final game for Castleford, a club he has felt very much at home at over the past six seasons.

“I have really fond memories, I love Cas, I’ve loved my time here and I owe a lot to Cas. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be in the position I am now playing regular Super League games if it wasn’t for Cas. 

“It’s hard to explain Cas without actually being there, everyone seems to love it and it has been the right fit for me with the atmosphere around the place, all the boys are great, and all the coaches too. It has seemed to fit right and get the best out of me.”

After a tough two seasons due to injuries, the halfback has enjoyed working with Head Coach Lee Radford and his fellow coaching staff in 2022.

“I’ve loved working under Radders, he’s been really good with me coming back from the back injury he has got me enjoying rugby again. It’s been a tough couple of years with my back, but that makes it more gutting that I can’t see the year out and repay Radders and Lasty.”

Trueman finished by paying tribute to the Fords faithful as he prepares to move onto pastures new in 2023.

“Thank you for the last six years supporting the team, it is so good to play down at The Jungle, those who have experienced it would say probably one of the best places to play in Super League. Thank you for making my time special.”

Castleford Tigers captain Paul McShane gave his thanks to Jake and commented on the news saying: “It’s gutting, he’s such a great kid and a good person to be around. To finish as it has, it’s not a nice ending. From his first day coming into the club as a young and quiet kid, you could tell he was special, and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Head Coach of the Fords Lee Radford added his thoughts and wished Jake well saying: “I’m obviously gutted for him. Since coming in he has been really good to be around, so I am devastated for him.

“Coming off months out with his back and now with his ACL, it’s a challenging time for him but hopefully he can come out the other end of it and get back playing some good rugby.”

It means that the Tigers have sadly suffered two serious ACL injuries in the space of two weeks, firstly to Ryan Hampshire picked up from the Catalans Dragons home fixture at the end of June, and now Jake Trueman at the start of July.

“To have two players out who are in that spine is difficult, but as a team, some blokes are going to step up and not let it derail our season.”

In closing, Radford indicated that the Tigers have been preparing for the 2023 season in earnest.

“We were made aware that Jake was not going to stay on at the club, so we have been proactive in terms of recruitment.”

Everyone at the Castleford Tigers would like to wish Jake a very speedy recovery, and we thank him for his efforts for our club.