Sporting Bygones: Castleford legend Steadman recalls the class of ‘92 and their Wembley woe

The former Castleford and Great Britain full-back – who moved to Wheldon Road from Featherstone Rovers back in 1989 for a then world record transfer fee of £170,000 – made his solitary Wembley final appearance in 1992.

Unfortunately, his Castleford team came up against a Wigan side in the middle of an eight-year domination of the competition, a 28-12 scoreline ending the West Yorkshire club’s cup dreams.

Fast forward nearly 20 years and that remains Castleford’s last Challenge Cup final appearance, but for Steadman that 1991-92 cup run remains one of his great sporting memories.

Castleford were drawn against Hull in the semi-finals on Saturday, March 14. In front of a Headingley crowd of 14,636, they edged out Hull 8-4 in a fiercely-fought match.

“Even before the semi-final started we knew it was going to be a very closely-fought contest,” recalled 49-year-old Steadman, now defence coach with Scotland’s rugby union national side. “That’s how it proved and we just got over the winning line.

“It was a very tough game, both defences were very well organised, very few opportunities, but fortunately for us the one chance we got we took it.

“I personally remember the day before the game, being a little bit nervous and the evening before I didn’t get the best night’s sleep.

“But on the back of that the next morning I was very excited and looking forward to the game. I couldn’t wait to get on the pitch because Headingley was always one of my favourite grounds. I used to love playing up there – and the fact we were just one match away from Wembley, made it that more special.

“The support that day was absolutely tremendous, probably the difference between us winning and losing. Once the Cas faithful get behind the team they can make a massive difference, as was in evidence in this season’s quarter-final against Huddersfield.

“With the Headingley game so tight, when the final whistle went, it was just one of relief. I remember the last 10 minutes just seemed to take an absolute age. Hull tried to penetrate our try line, put a lot of pressure on us, but thankfully the defence stood up to everything they threw at us.

“Hull were very well organised, had lots of threats throughout the team and we had done a lot of work beforehand to try and negate those threats. Thankfully it paid off, but those last 10 minutes it was all hands on deck.

“When the final whistle went it was one of relief, but also joy as were going to Wembley. It was something special that I will never forget. The scenes in the stadium, friends and family in the crowd, I will always remember that day.

“When you win a semi-final it’s something special, but losers are very rarely remembered. I was in that position as Cas coach when we were beaten by Wigan.”

That game back in 2002 saw the Tigers lose 20-10 against Wigan at Headingley, the last time – before yesterday – that Castleford had reached the last four of the Challenge Cup.

At Wembley in 1992, Castleford got off to the worst possible start when the prolific Martin Offiah got on the end of his own kick through, beating Steadman to the ball, to pounce for a try after just five minutes.

And it just got worse for Castleford when Shaun Edwards scampered over for a try after 21 minutes.

Joe Lydon’s drop goal two minutes before half-time nudged Wigan into a 13-0 lead, and with thoughts turning to the dressing room, Castleford were opened up once again.

Offiah – who would go on to lift the Lance Todd Trophy – looked second best as he chased an Edwards kick, only for his amazing pace to take him clear of the covering defence and hand Wigan a 19-0 interval advantage.

Castleford needed to get a foothold in the game and Darryl van de Velde’s team-talk seemed to do the trick as they blitzed the Wigan defence.

Richard Blackmore provided his side with a lifeline, terrific driving runs from Tawera Nikau bringing about an opening try for the former Auckland Warriors centre.

Martin Ketteridge converted and it was all Castleford now as they heaped pressure on the Wigan defence.

But the Lancashire club delivered the perfect sucker punch, as they broke up field and on the overlap, Steve Hampson was on hand to dive over for a try. Frano Botica converted all four of Wigan’s tries.

But still Castleford refused to throw in the towel and they managed a second try to cut the deficit. A superb flick under pressure from Steadman on the fifth tackle put in Keith England – one of the survivors from Castleford’s 1986 Cup-winning team – for a Ketteridge-converted try.

But Wigan were to have the final word as Lydon’s late drop goal secured victory for the Lancashire side, their fifth consecutive final triumph, amid a run that would see them go eight seasons unbeaten in the Challenge Cup.

“Looking back to the final against Wigan, we maybe paid them a little bit too much respect,” said Steadman, who still manages to get down to watch the Tigers with his son Thomas. “We put too much preparation on what Wigan were about, instead of focussing on what we could do.

“I remember myself missing a 50-50 kick with Offiah. I was just about to put my hand on the ball and Offiah kicked it clear and off the back of that they scored.

“That was in the first quarter, it wasn’t the best start. We regrouped at half-time and it was a much-improved performance in the second half, but when you play a team like Wigan were at that time – very difficult to beat when they got their noses in front – and that proved the case on that day.

“We didn’t come up with the answers in the first 40 minutes, they got points on the scoreboard, got themselves into a lead and held it.”