Video: Ruthless Powell reveals why he axed Tigers star

The Samoa second-row made a big impact earlier this season, his first since joining from Melbourne Storm.

But he has lost his way recently and, after another ineffective display in Saturday’s 40-14 Challenge Cup defeat at Hull FC, is left out of the 19-man squad for tomorrow night’s Super League visit of Huddersfield Giants.

“He’s just not been playing well enough,” Powell said.

“He needs to respond by fixing his game up.

“He’s making too many errors to be in the side at the moment.”

The Castleford coach hoped to have experienced full-back Luke Dorn back in his side tomorrow after a two-month lay-off with a hamstring injury.

However, frustratingly, the dynamic Australian faces the same amount of time out again after going down in practice.

Powell admitted: “Luke has had a fair setback.

“He did most of the session and then re-injured his hamstring, which is a bit of a blow.”

Huddersfield are a point in front of the Tigers in fourth place in the table but they, too, are reeling from a disappointing performance in the cup and coach Paul Anderson has also shaken up his team as a result.

Former Castleford half-back Jamie Ellis, an ever-present since his move to the John Smith’s Stadium in the winter, is among those to pay the price for Saturday’s 48-16 defeat at Leeds Rhinos.

“We seriously let ourselves down,” Anderson said. “We all probably had our season’s worst performance and, hands up, I got out-coached as well.

“We’ve had a good talk about some stuff, no crisis meetings or anything like that. We were honest and had some good reaction in regards to some feedback.

“The short turnaround with the Thursday night game is probably going to help us - you don’t have time to dwell on it. We’re refusing to allow what happened on Saturday derail what we’re trying to achieve.”

Anderson brings in hooker Kruise Leeming in place of Ellis and has also recalled full-back or centre Jake Connor and winger Jodie Broughton for only his third appearance of the season.