Gareth O’Brien aiming for Grand Final success with Castleford 

Castleford Tigers full-back Gareth O’Brien says he’s hoping to impress his team-mates and is aiming for Grand Final success with his new club. 

O’Brien made his 2020 Castleford debut against St Helens in round nine of the Super League at the Totally Wicked Stadium, impressing on his return to the game since Toronto’s Challenge Cup victory over Huddersfield in March.

The 28-year-old featured at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in 2013 on loan from Warrington, and is now back focusing on his game after joining Daryl Powell’s squad on loan for the rest of the season.

“I’m coming into a very talented squad with aspirations to win a Grand Final, so that would be awesome. That is why we all play after all,” said O’Brien.

“I just want to play well, and earn the boys respect there.

“I settled in really well and quickly. I knew a few of the boys anyway from my previous loan spell and I’ve played with George Griffin and Derell Olpherts at Salford.

“The hard part is getting used to all the calls for plays, but again that soon comes with time on the field training.”

O’Brien joined the Wolfpack in 2018, and says that his teammates still keep in touch.

“It’s not been a great year for the club,” he said.

“But the boys do keep in touch, we have a WhatAapp group which I think most teams do now, so we’ve been communicating in there.

“As for meeting up, with the new RFL guidelines, that’s obviously been put on hold, but we’re all in touch.”

O’Brien could make his seventh appearance of 2020 this Saturday, as the Tigers face Wigan at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.