News

Posted: Friday 16th October 2020

Hull FC vs Tigers: Match Preview

The Tigers and the Black & Whites have their third meeting in five weeks on Sunday at the KCOM Stadium in Hull.

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Hull FC will play at their home stadium for the first time in over seven months when Castleford come to visit this week and looking for revenge after being beaten in the previous two encounters.

Heading into this one the two sides are sat in 7th and 8th place in the Betfred Super League table and both will be fighting for a strong finish to the season.

It’s been a long road to get to this league fixture which was originally scheduled for early in the restart of the competition back in August, it was postponed along with the Challenge Cup tie too due to positive Covid-19 tests within the Hull FC squad and staff. This resulted in Castleford standing in for the Airlie Birds for a match, a favour which was returned last week by Andy Last’s side when Hull FC faced our original opponents Leeds after there were three positive coronavirus results in the Tigers playing group.

Following the Fords’ receiving those test results and standing down a further six players, with one more already self-isolating due to a family member contracting the virus, Castleford have held two rounds of testing on the rest of the First Team – with no further positive results, you can read more about that here.

Castleford will be looking to get back to winning ways after a number of close defeats since the restart of the season, the most recent of which fittingly came against the Black & Whites two weeks ago, a Jake Connor try snatching the two points from the Tigers grasp with two minutes to go.

Daryl Powell is boosted by the potential return of two halfbacks Danny Richardson & Jake Trueman, as well as more forward power with Jesse Sene-Lefao all called into the 21-man squad list. Meanwhile, there could be debuts for youngsters; Brad Graham, Brad Martin or Bailey Hodgson who are also named.

Tigers Academy graduate Brad Graham received his second call up into Powell’s team sheet for this match, the youngster impressed during the pre-season so much that he has given the squad number #28. Another product of the youth system at Cas, Bailey Hodgson has been named in the 21-man shortlist for a fifth time this season and could add his pace into the Tigers line up. Brad Martin also feature in the Fords’ friendlies before the start of the season, he was brought in to join Castleford’s Reserves squad for 2020 and to train with the First Team from Leeds Rhinos Academy during the off-season. Martin is a strong forward and would love to make an impact if he gets his Super League debut.

Andy Last has two important players returning to his 21-man squad with halfback Albert Kelly and second-rower Manu Ma’u. Last time out they just edged past Huddersfield Giants on Tuesday night by 18-16, a late Marc Sneyd penalty securing them a win.

Matches between Castleford Tigers and Hull FC have rarely disappointed in recent years and if the most recent two encounters are anything to go by, we should expect a lively and battling affair but this time the Fords will be aiming for a better end result.

WHEN: Sunday, 18th October – kick-off at 3pm

WHERE: KCOM Stadium, Hull

HOW TO WATCH: Season Ticket holders who registered to watch via OURLEAGUE will be able to tune in using their stream codes via the OURLEAGUE website or app. This match in full will be available to watch for Tigers TV subscribers on Monday, highlights of the match will be available for everyone to view too.

GET INVOLVED: Cheer the Tigers on throughout the day on social media using #ReadyToRoar

 

Castleford Tigers 21-man squad: 4. Michael Shenton, 6. Jake Trueman, 7. Danny Richardson, 9. Paul McShane, 10. Grant Millington, 12. Mike McMeeken, 13. Adam Milner, 14. Nathan Massey, 15. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 17. Alex Foster, 18. Cheyse Blair, 20. Junior Moors, 22. Jacques O’Neill, 23. Matt Cook, 24. Tyla Hepi, 27. Lewis Peachey, 28. Brad Graham, 31. Brad Martin, 33. Bailey Hodgson, 34. Gareth O’Brien, 35. Jack Sanderson.

Hull FC 21-man squad: 1. Jamie Shaul, 2. Bureta Faraimo, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 4. Josh Griffin, 6. Jake Connor, 7. Marc Sneyd, 9. Danny Houghton, 10. Tevita Satae, 12. Manu Ma’u, 13. Ligi Sao, 14. Albert Kelly, 15. Joe Cator, 16. Jordan Johnstone, 19. Masi Matongo, 20. Brad Fash, 22. Josh Bowden, 23. Andre Savelio, 24. Mahe Fonua, 30. Jack Brown, 31. Cameron Scott, 33. Ratu Naulago.