Let’s face it, it hasn’t been the best week for Castleford Tigers.
A horrendous 58-16 defeat at the hands of Hull KR was not only a missed opportunity as they attempted to cut the deficit between themselves and the top four, but a result that has left the fans desperately annoyed. If you don’t know what I’m on about, check Twitter.
With Cas seventh in Super League and just a point above local rivals Wakefield in ninth, the club, and more so the fans, really needed a boost with the threat of a bottom four spot increasing.
So the addition of Danny Tickle until the end of the year was the perfect tonic to help the club as a whole get over a headache lingering from that defeat to KR.
The 33-year-old brings experience, vigour and added quality to a Castleford pack that has perhaps lacked an extra body all season. While there will be some question marks over his fitness following a nightclub attack that saw him miss the start of this season at Widnes, Tickle has a point he is very keen to prove and has been offered a great opportunity to prove his worth at an ambitious club and under a great coach in Daryl Powell. It’s a no-brainer for both parties.
Of course, the Tigers have also brought in Larne Patrick from Huddersfield, another astute capture for the Tigers after a frustrating spell at the Giants.
Like Tickle, the Welsh international comes with a point to prove. After not getting a permanent deal at Wigan, Patrick didn’t rediscover his best form at Huddersfield upon return, but now he gets another chance across West Yorkshire.
Powell will be hoping their enthusiasm and determination will inject some urgency into the current squad as the jostling for selection intensifies. There were players that looked complacent in recent weeks, but there’s no room for that anymore, which makes Powell’s mid-season recruitment a very intelligent move ahead of an important game with St Helens on Sunday.
