CHRIS CHESTER has explained that the decision to let Jack Ashworth leave Castleford Tigers was down to the fact that Leigh Leopards offered him a longer deal.
Ashworth joined the Tigers ahead of the 2026 season on a two-year deal, but has found opportunities limited this campaign, playing only eleven times.
In response, the Tigers have signed Leopards’ trio Lazarus Vaalepu, Keanan Brand and Ben McNamara on loan until the end of the season.
“Lazarus is a big body and I know Keanan and Ben well,” said director of rugby Chester, who held a similar role at the Leopards before moving to Castleford last year.
“Keanan was my first signing at Leigh. He is a great kid and just had an issue with an injury at the start of the year and struggled to get in.
“Leigh have been really accommodating on all three of those guys.
“We lost Jack Ashworth but those conversations around Jack were that there was an opportunity to gain another year elsewhere (he’s signed with Leigh until 2028) and we weren’t in a position to offer that.
“We won’t stand in players’ ways if they are going to get a longer deal elsewhere.”
The Tigers, who travel to St Helens on Saturday, will also be without star centre Krystian Mapapalangi for “a couple of weeks” due to a shoulder injury.
Chester added: “We are fairly confident Maps will be back before the end of the year. It’s something to do with bone fragment that’s come off and is causing him an issue.”