Castleford are urged 
to follow 
the example 
set by Orr

Castleford Tigers’ chief executive Steve Ferres has encouraged the club’s under-performing players to atone tonight for recent poor displays.

They venture to St Helens looking to secure a first win in five games and under mounting pressure for the unimpressive standard of their performances.

A poor defeat against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats was followed by further capitulation against bottom-placed London Broncos which leaves them in danger of receiving the wooden spoon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ferres said: “It isn’t good enough when you get ex-players – who are still fans – coming to the game and stopping you to say they’re ashamed of the sort of passion that was shown.

“Some of these guys will retire at the end of the season and some will go on and play again.

“But at the end of the day you have to look in the mirror and ask ‘Did I give my best?’ because every time you go out you’re judged on your performance .

“If they’re happy then they’re not the men they should be.”

Ferres added: “I expected a response last week after Wakefield and didn’t get it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’d like to think there will be one on Friday. People in Castleford are honest and know they’re rugby league.

“They’re looking at players and saying ‘You’re not giving your best’.

“If everybody gave what Danny Orr gave at the weekend – and I’m not saying he was the only one – we’d be okay.

“He tried leading by example but few followed him.”

Coach Ian Millward has also criticised his squad and is under pressure himself to provoke a return to form.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ferres said: “Ian knows the lie of the land. He’s been around long enough to realise his job rests on performances, like any coach.

“He’s got to look at what we’ve got and get the best out of what we’ve got to turn it around.”

It will not be easy at his former club, though, who are seeking to recover from consecutive defeats to Warrington and Wakefield but also hold an intimidating home record against Castleford.

The West Yorkshire club have not won a league game at 
St Helens since 1990.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hopefully, though, Castleford’s players will have been reminded of what the sport means to their town after yesterday paying their respects to a life-long supporter.

The funeral cortège of Peter Jackson –born in 1926, the year the club was formed – journeyed around the Wheldon Road training ground as the squad paused to reflect.

No one expects Castleford to win tonight but desire and commitment need to be a given.

Hull KR captain Ben Galea marked his 34th birthday by confirming he is to retire at the end of the season.

Hull FC forward Chris Green, 22, has been rewarded for a breakthrough season in Super League with a new two-year contract.