Hull KR 16 Castleford Tigers 16 - Josh Mantellato refuses to be blown off course as Robins grab point

The Italian international, who scored 27 tries following his move from Newcastle Knights, crossed in the last minute to help set up a dramatic opening day draw against gutted Castleford Tigers.

The prolific tall winger still had to successfully convert what was his second try of the game from the touchline and that was far from an easy task.

Given Mantellato was facing into a brutal wind blowing in from the North Sea – the error-strewn game was played amid horizontal rain at one point – and he had already failed to get the requisite length with a similar effort for his first try, not many people truly expected him to succeed.

“No chance,” said Rovers head coach Chris Chester, who badly needed some sort of result after some wretched pre-season form.

“I must admit as soon as we scored that’s what I said to (Hull KR prop) Dane Tilse – that Josh had no chance.

“But he did it and considering he’s only got one eye that’s open – I think he got a stray boot in there – he’s done a fantastic job of kicking the goal. He might have to wear an eye mask in future if that’s how he kicks it.”

Castleford, however, will be smarting with themselves.

They were far from slick in this first outing of the Super League season but had seemingly done enough to win and looked in control when Jake Webster’s second try against his former club put them 16-10 ahead just after the hour.

Luke Gale couldn’t convert from wide out, though, and after the visitors failed to muster a single drop goal attempt, it meant Rovers remained in touching distance despite having little decent ball.

They duly took their best chance in the last minute when Castleford centre Ben Crooks raced out of the defensive line but missed Ben Cockayne – who excelled after being awarded the full-back role – finding Mantellato with a pass for the 28-year-old to finish. Soon after, the growing roar from the home faithful behind him said his kick was sweet and accurate.

Castleford winger Denny Solomona had scored early on after a smart pass from Gale, who converted, but Rovers had most of the pressure in the first half, finally going over via the industrious James Donaldson, Mantellato levelling it up with just 34 seconds remaining of a first half, in which Castleford’s Lee Jewitt and Rovers’ Mitch Allgood were sin-binned for fighting.

Tigers had had to deal with a significant blow when losing captain Michael Shenton to a first-half knee injury that saw John Boudebza put on report although Webster, the veteran Kiwi who played more than 100 games for Rovers, slotted in effortlessly to fill the void.

He sliced through from a scrum 15m out after Cockayne made a rare mistake dropping Gale’s long punt in the 49th minute.

Gale improved the score and, though Mantellato hit back with his first try, he couldn’t convert himself to leave the West Yorkshire club still in front. Webster added his second after Solomona did brilliantly to take Gale’s crossfield kick but this time Gale couldn’t add the extras, leaving Rovers with hope.

The hosts deserved their reward; they showed plenty of desire and endeavour despite being tested heavily by Castleford, who had Junior Moors and Ryan Boyle impressing off the bench, in that second period.

Chester was one of the pre-season favourites to become the first Super League head coach to get sacked but his squad – without captain Terry Campese and three other regulars – showed they more than have the ability to compete.

“We’ve been questioned these last few weeks and I thought it was a perfect response,” he said, after some embarrassing friendly losses to Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC. “Defensively we looked comfortable; we spoke how the boys had to do their job.

“They threw a lot at us did Castleford, but we kept working hard and turning up for each other, the effort was first class and I’m really pleased with the result.”

Chester opted for Cockayne at full-back in preference to both Ken Sio, who played wing, and Kieran Dixon, who was left out.

“We look a lot stronger a team defensively when Ben is in at the back,” he said. “I’ve not given up on Ken Sio or Kieran Dixon but in terms of what he brings to the team defensively, he’s very good at that side of things.”

Rovers lost James Greenwood to an early concussion which could see him miss Sunday’s trip to Warrington but, for now, 
everyone in east Hull is still simply rejoicing Mantellato’s brilliance.

Hull KR: Cockayne; Sio, Minns, Thornley, Mantellato; Blair, Kelly; Tilse, Lawler, Allgood, Horne, Clarkson, Greenwood. Substitutes: Mulhern, Donaldson, Green, Boudebza.

Castleford Tigers: Dorn; Monaghan, Crooks, Shenton, Solomona; Roberts, Gale; Millington, McShane, Cook, Holmes, McMeeken, Jewitt. Substitutes: Boyle, Milner, Moors, Webster.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield)