'Lost for words': How crisis club Castleford Tigers punished forward-thinking Hull FC

Castleford Tigers ended a disastrous run in the Betfred Super League with an 18-14 win at Hull FC.

The Tigers had conceded 144 points in successive defeats to Wakefield, Warrington and Hull KR but bounced back at the MKM Stadium thanks to Liam Hood’s late try.

In your face: George Lawler of Castleford is tackled by Aidan Sezer and Cade Cust of Hull FC, but it was Cas who prevailed.

placeholder image — In your face: George Lawler of Castleford is tackled by Aidan Sezer and Cade Cust of Hull FC, but it was Cas who prevailed.

Castleford director of rugby Chris Chester – who continues to step in for head coach Ryan Carr who is absent for personal reasons – said: “I thought we were the best side. We showed some real toughness, some real resilience and some real fight, which is probably what we’ve been lacking these last few weeks.

“I’m pleased for the boys after a real tough week and I’m just really proud of them because it’s a hard place to come. I think the pressure was off, coming away from home, and we could play without fear.”

Cas opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Renouf Atoni took a short ball at speed and Tom Weaver added the conversion.

Mikaele Ravalawa dived over to stretch the lead after Phoenix Laulu-Togagae had lofted a perfectly weighted pass into the corner.

Weaver kicked a penalty to make it 12-0 but Hull – who have struggled again themselves this season – launched a stirring fightback either side of the interval.

Jakob Arthur’s grubber kick was collected by Joe Batchelor and Aidan Sezer added the goal.

Hull – who announced on the eve of the game that they are signing veteran Australian half-back Daly Cherry-Evans for 2027 – claimed the lead as Harvey Barron took a high ball to touch down and Sezer sent over Lewis Martin in the corner at the MKM Stadium.

But Hood burst over from dummy half 12 minutes from time and Weaver enjoyed more kicking success as the Tigers climbed two places to ninth while Hull stay 12th.

Interim Hull coach Andy Last said: “It’s a disappointing result and performance. I’m lost for words. There’s been a lot of talk about next year, but I’ve got a job to do this year.

“I’ve got to galvanise the group and concentrate on better performances between now and the end of the season. But this was nowhere near good enough in terms of consistency.

There were periods when it was OK and then periods where it was shocking.”