Cas vs Leigh: Match Preview

It will be the first game of rugby league at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle in 2021 in over six months when the Tigers take on the Leigh Centurions looking for their fourth win in four games at the start of the new season.

RETURN TO THE JUNGLE

Wheldon Road will play host to a Betfred Super League game for the first time since October 2020 when they line up against John Duffy’s side on Friday, with a 6:00pm kick-off.

Daryl Powell’s side will face the visiting Leythers for the first time in four years in their bid to preserve their 100% record in Super League 2021 so far. The Fords have traditionally had the upper hand against the side from Greater Manchester, having won their last seven home encounters, including a 44-16 win in February 2017.

The Tigers are back in Super League action after a thrilling 32-33 victory over Hull KR in the Betfred Challenge Cup. Highlights of that enthralling game can be watched on Tigers TV.

TIGERS TEAM NEWS

The sole change to the 21-man squad that was named for the cup tie against Hull KR last week is the introduction of Sam Hall for Danny Richardson. It marks the first call into the squad declaration for the Tigers’ prop in 2021, who made his senior debut against Wigan Warriors back in February 2020.

Elsewhere, keep an eye out if O’Brien is on kicking duties for the Tigers: three converted goals will give him a career total of 500 goals successfully converted!

THE OPPOSITION

John Duffy’s Leigh side started the 2021 season side on fire, taking an 18-point lead against Wigan, before falling just short in the second half. They faced another tough fixture in Round Two against Warrington Wolves, being beaten 44-12 at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

In team news, Leigh will look to hand their Leigh Super League debuts to Ben Flower and Nathan Peats who will provide an injection of top-level veteran experience from both Super League and the NRL.

Leythers’ fans will be further buoyed by the announcement that Anthony Gelling will link up with the club once he finishes his quarantine arrival. He will be hoping his new side can secure a sizeable win in Round Three and lay the groundwork for a successful remainder of the 2021 season.

POWELL’S PREVIEW

Head Coach Daryl Powell was excited to return to league action after the thrilling Challenge Cup win last week and insisted that being home will be a big boost in his sides’ attempts to make it four wins from four in 2021.

“To be back home, I think it’s awesome. It’s been a while now [Since our last home game] and it’ll be great to get down here and in the not-too-distant future, fingers crossed, we can have fans here too, and that’ll be huge.”

WATCH Daryl Powell’s Leigh preview in full, for free, on Tigers TV

THE SQUADS

Castleford Tigers 21-man squad: - 1. Niall Evalds, 2. Derrell Olpherts, 3. Peter Mata’utia, 4. Michael Shenton, 6. Jake Trueman, 8. Liam Watts, 9. Paul McShane, 10. Grant Millington, 11. Oliver Holmes, 12. Cheyse Blair, 13. Adam Milner, 14. Nathan Massey, 15. George Griffin, 19. Tyla Hepi, 21. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 22. Daniel Smith, 23. Greg Eden, 25. Jordan Turner, 26. Lewis Bienek, 29. Sam Hall, 31. Gareth O’Brien

Leigh Centurions 21-man squad: - 1. Ryan Brierley, 2. Matty Russell, 3. Iain Thornley, 5. Lewis Tierney, 7. Joe Mellor, 8. Ben Flower, 9. Liam Hood, 10. Mark Ioane, 11. Ben Hellewell, 12. Jordan Thompson, 13. James Bell, 15. Alex Gerrard, 16. Nate Peteru, 18. Matty Gee, 20. Adam Sidlow, 21. Tyrone McCarthy, 22. Craig Mullen, 24. Keanan Brand, 26. Nathan Peats, 30. Ben Reynolds, 31. Josh Simm

PLAYER’S VIEW

Off the back of his two-try performance against Hull KR, Derrell Olpherts isn’t getting too carried away and insists that the John Duffy’s side will still merit some serious attention if Cas are able to avoid an upset.

“We’ll be expecting them to come out firing and they’ve been playing well despite the results in the first couple of games. People have been writing them off and you can’t write any team off in Super League.”

“They’ve got a point to prove like everyone else has so we’ll be doing our best to try and get one over them on Friday night.”

WATCH Derrell Olpherts on not underestimating the Tigers’ opponents this Friday on Tigers TV

HOW TO WATCH

Season Ticket Holders can watch this game live on Our League with their existing Our League season ticket code.

Further details on how to redeem and watch using your unique Season Ticket code are available here. Please note requests for codes that have not been received need to be sent to ticketing@castigers.com no later than 48 hours prior to a match.

This match in full will be available to watch for Tigers TV subscribers on Monday, highlights of the match will be available for everyone to view too.

LISTEN LIVE

BBC Radio Leeds will have full match commentary with James Deighton and Craig Huby online HERE.

GET INVOLVED

Cheer the Tigers on throughout the day on social media using hashtags: #ReadyToRoar and #COYF on social media!