CHRIS CHESTER has admitted that he has got some decisions wrong as director of rugby at Castleford Tigers.
Appointed in May 2025, following three successful years in a similar role at Leigh Leopards, Chester was given the task of rebuilding a side that would go on to win just six games last season.
Under the tutelage of new head coach Ryan Carr, Castleford brought in Darnell McIntosh, Mikaele Ravalawa, Jordan Lane, Jack Ashworth, Blake Taaffe, Semi Valemei, Liam Hood, Ashton Golding and Krystian Mapapalangi.
But the Tigers have underwhelmed, making further mid-season signings in Tyler Dupree, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e and Jack Brown in a bid to turn around a season of struggle.
Chester is well underway with next season’s recruitment, and has clarified that Tyrell Sloan, Damien Cook and Mat Feagai – all signed from St George Illawarra Dragons, where they played under the reportedly suspended Tigers coach Carr, are still committed to joining.
“Recruitment is an ongoing thing, I’ve had good discussions with good players who we have signed for next year,” Chester said.
‘There’s nobody getting cold feet. We want those guys to be here next year and I’m fairly confident they will be here.
“Like every club, there will be players that leave and those that are contracted who maybe need to leave.
“There’s lots of work to do, I’ve got to hold my hands up in terms of recruitment. I think I’ve made some wrong decisions and you live and die by those decisions.
“I’m man enough to admit that I’ve got quite a bit wrong this year.”
Chester went on to describe what the club is looking for next season.
“I’m hopeful that us as a club can turn things around and I’m fairly confident in 2027 we can,” he said.
“We’ve identified a number of positions where we lack size. Teams are steamrolling us through the middle so we are looking at bigger bodies.
“We need to freshen up another three or four on top of what we’ve already got.”