Castleford Tigers head coach Lee Radford has named a strong squad of 20 players for the trip to Whitehaven this weekend.
It will be stronger than might have been expected as their planned friendly with Keighley Cougars last week was postponed.
Consequently first team regulars Liam Watts, George Griffin, Nathan Massey, Adam Milner and Jordan Turner, along with Kenny Edwards, George Lawler, Alex Mellor and Jake Mamo are in for their first hit-outs of 2023.
A new addition to the squad Albert Vete will be looking to make an impression on potentially his first Cas appearance while youngsters Cain Robb and Jacob Hookem will be in familiar territory having represented Whitehaven last season on loan stints.
It will be Castleford’s first meeting with Whitehaven since 2007 when the Yorkshire side were fighting to get back into Super League.
Whitehaven director of rugby Gary Charlton said: “Castleford have said all along they were going to bring a strong squad so it will really be something for the local fans to enjoy – a close-up of Super League quality.
“We are looking for a bumper crowd to give the club a boost as we head into the final preparations for the Championship season.”
Whitehaven pulled over 1,000 for the two previous warm-up games with Workington Town and Wigan, but with the Tigers bringing so many quality players they hope to break through the 2,000 barrier tomorrow.
Fijian forward Lasarusa Tabu has been named in the Whitehaven squad for the game, although he just arrived in west Cumbria yesterday.
Head coach Jonty Gorley has named 22 players in his squad and they include three trialists bidding to make a final push for a contract.
The squad is: Sam Freeman, Dave Eccleston, Chris Taylor, Curtis Teare, Karl Dixon, Alex Bishop, Liam McAvoy, Tom Walker, Connor Holliday, Lachlan Lanskey, Dion Aiye, Jamie Doran, Lasarusa Tabu, Perry Singleton, Jake Bradley, Marcus O’Brien, Lucas Castle, Josh Rourke, Daniel Spencer-Tonks, Ross Ainley, Lewis Fairhurst and John Hutchings.
Castleford’s squad is: Oliver Agar, Jack Broadbent, Kenny Edwards, Bureta Faraimo, Mahe Fonua, George Griffin, Jacob Hookem, George Lawler, Jake Mamo, Nathan Massey, Alex Mellor, Adam Milner, Muizz Mustapha, Cain Robb, Daniel Smith, Alex Sutcliffe, Jordan Turner, Albert Vete, Elliot Wallis, Liam Watts.
