Interview: Brett Ferres

This morning they sit joint bottom, only avoiding the humiliation of being at the foot of the table on points difference to promoted Widnes Vikings.

After an opening day win over Salford City Reds, the Tigers have lost five successive games to blow away any early-season optimism.

In their six games, they have scored a measly 90 points, while conceding 182, and with head coach Ian Millward only returning this week after family bereavement it has been a tough opening month.

It promises not to get any easier when Castleford travel to league leaders Huddersfield Giants tonight.

Along with Millward’s return – the new Tigers coach has been on compassionate leave after the shock death of his 19-year-old son Robbie, from a heart attack – Brett Ferres also makes a welcome comeback after being suspended for last weekend’s 42-16 defeat at London Broncos.

The 25-year-old England forward brings a wealth of experience and muscle to Castleford and he is hoping the Tigers can draw a line under their disappointing start to the season at the Galpharm Stadium tonight.

“We thought we had sent a squad down that was capable of getting a win at London, we practised really well all week, Stuart (Donlan) has done a great job in Ian’s absence,” said Ferres.

“We thought we could kick-start our season, but it didn’t go like that, it went the opposite way. It was a bit of a thumping, a really disappointing weekend.

“We would all love to know what the difference is between last year’s start and this. We set off like a house on fire last season, everything went our way and everything just seemed to click in place really quickly.

“We got a lot of good wins at the start, yet this year, we had a good win and have just declined a little bit. We have been playing well in periods of the game, but just can’t seem to capitalise and make that next step. It’s a tough one.

“Castleford have not performed, but we know what we are capable of. We have had some really good patches in games, like the Leeds game, and need to start replicating that.

“We need to draw a line under the London match and start reaping the rewards. We need to repay the fans with a big 80 minutes.

“We really need to start knuckling down. I am sure if we keep on improving we can find the results from somewhere. If we can keep injury-free, we have all the attributes here of a good side.”

Millward’s return has given the club a huge lift, says the former Bradford and Wakefield forward.

“Ian came back on Monday, we had a really good chat with him and it was really good to see him back on the training field,” said Ferres. “It’s nice to have him back, it eases a lot of pressure on Stu, and things just seem a little bit more normal now to have our coach back. It makes a big difference.

“It has been a bloody awful thing, a real tragedy, Robbie was such a young lad and he lost his life. It’s still hard to talk about it, we don’t know how it feels and Ian has needed a lot of time to grieve and try to work it out the best way he can.

“Being with Ian every day, it does affect people (what happened to him) but I don’t think we could use that as an excuse. It’s not fair to use it, it’s Ian’s personal stuff.

“We just need to start looking forward now. It would have helped if we had been in a better position for Ian to come back to, made it a little bit easier for him, but, obviously, things haven’t gone our way.

“We just need to start repaying everybody now with a few wins.”

Castleford could be expected to be suffering a hangover at the start of this year after their dramatic failure to clinch a play-off spot last season, missing out on the final weekend of the regular season to finish ninth.

But Tigers’ decline has still surprised many. Ferres added: “Last season was a real kick in the teeth. We had a really good start, dipped a little bit in form during the season, and picked back up.

“We had a really good Cup run as well, so it was a good season in general terms, but we lost a few players near the back end and our squad struggled a little bit. It was unfortunate we missed out, but, hopefully, we can go one step further this year. We still have aspirations to reach the play-offs and it’s not out of our reach.”

Standing in their way tonight is a Giants team who are coming off the back of a 32-14 win at Wakefield.

The Giants are without winger Aaron Murphy after he fractured a bone in his knee and has been ruled out for four to six weeks.

But Giants star David Faiumu believes the current crop of players are some of the best he’s seen at the club.

“Potentially it’s a very strong squad,” he said. “We’ve got some good youngsters coming through and they mix well with the old heads who steer the ship.”

“There is no room for complacency in this team with the youngsters coming in and making their mark.”