'It doesn't look good on me': Castleford Tigers prop Liam Watts ready to bounce back from disciplinary nightmare

The Castleford Tigers prop was suspended a staggering six times last year, forcing him to sit out nine of the club's 29 matches.

It was a nightmare campaign for a player who struggled with the disciplinary clampdown from the start.

"When I look back now and pick the bones out of it, I just think I got the year all wrong," Watts told The Yorkshire Post.

"I could say the bans were harsh or I could say they were fair but it doesn't make a difference.

"I just don't want that to be a burden on my career. I read some of the comments saying, 'He's banned again'. They don't see the incident properly; all they see is I'm banned for two games.

"It doesn't look good on me. I've done some stupid stuff in the past but these are crappy little two-game bans. I didn't miss them five or six years ago for worse.

"It does get a bit frustrating and I think I let that get the better of me last year."

Watts missed several important games in 2022, none bigger than the play-off decider against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.

Although he managed to stay fit to play in the other 20 matches, the weight of the disciplinary issues meant his usual spark was missing.

"It was taking a bit of the love of the game out of it for me," added Watts.

"When you're coming into games, you're just not there mentally. I was guilty of feeling fed up going into games last year.

"It does grind you down sometimes. I got into a mindset where I just thought, 'Here we go again'."

There is a widely-held view that the disciplinary process suffers from a lack of consistency, which is shared by Watts.

"I've seen some of the stuff that's gone on in games that's been missed," he said.

"We were on Sky all the time and I just kept getting picked up. There were teams not on Sky doing way worse. They've even openly admitted that they've missed some stuff."

Watts has not been shy to air his views on disciplinary matters on social media, which he believes may have irked the match review panel.

The forward plans to bite his tongue this year – and hopes Tigers boss Lee Radford can do the same.

"I don't think I helped myself because every time I got banned I said something," added Watts.

"I hung myself out to dry but I don't think Radders helped me sometimes. He came out in the press and said a few things about fining blokes.

"I think I might avoid social media full stop this year."

The 32-year-old has discovered to his cost that old habits die hard. He has been working with Radford to remedy the situation and ensure he can be relied on in 2023.

"You get drilled for 16, 17 years about chasing half-backs and shutting plays down and then all of a sudden the rules change," said Watts.

"Sometimes it takes quite a while to kick in; I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

"Timing is massive. I'm a big lad and not the most agile so when people are stepping you either side it's about getting that timing right.

"Sometimes I'm just a bit overeager and heavy-footed. We get trained to get up in their faces and then you've got a little outside back with quick feet. You can't let him run past you so you put out your hand, catch him around the face and it's a two-game ban.

"It's just a matter of getting my timing right and not being as eager. I've just got to keep my arms down and my legs in."

Watts' relationship with Radford dates back to their time together at Hull FC.

The pair have not always seen eye to eye but there is mutual respect and a joint determination to improve Watts' disciplinary record.

"I've been having tough conversations with Radders for the last 10 years," said Watts with a smile.

"He just said it is what it is and that we could argue that black is white and question everything I've done wrong but it's not going to change the situation and we need to figure out a way around that.

"He's tried to implement some stuff in my training. I'm coming up against players like Cain Robb and Milky (Jacob Miller). They've got quick feet and changes of angles and I'm having to tackle them underneath the ball. It's just a matter of getting down there but when you're 6ft 4in it's a long way down.

"I've reined the flying out of the line stuff right back and tried sticking to the system and concentrating more on my initial contact and the floor stuff.

"I'm feeling a lot stronger in my tackles now, whereas before I was getting bounced off a little bit. I'm absorbing them more and slowing them down."

Given his recent trials and tribulations, Watts is naturally hoping for a big year in 2023.

The experienced front-rower is off contract at the end of the season, which is adding to his motivation.

"This year I've come in with a fresh mindset and who knows, it might be my last year," said Watts.

"I'm happy to be back training. There were some days when I just didn't want to come in last year. I was fed up with myself.

"It's just about putting myself in the right frame of mind and working hard for the lads. There were lads playing who shouldn't have been playing because they were busted.

"I got to the back end of the season and it was the freshest I'd ever felt. I'm using that freshness to train hard now.

"I'm in my last year now. I just want to enjoy it and play well this year."