Castleford receive major boost ahead of Rivals Round while Widdop drops out
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
Castleford Tigers welcome back full-back Niall Evalds for their Super League Rivals Round clash with Wakefield.
However, Gareth Widdop has dropped out of the 21-man squad after falling to illness during the club’s trip to Perpignan in Round Seven.
Evalds, 29, played in the first three games of the season but then suffered a knock to his ACL joint.
Interim boss Andy Last commented at the time: “It’s an ACL joint but the diagnosis is quite positive really. It’ll be four to six weeks.
“He might be able to get back in to training and be considered for selection a little bit sooner than that but it’s a blow for Niall.
“He had a couple of injuries last year and started the season in good form but has picked up another knock. The diagnosis isn’t as bad as first feared so there is a little bit of a positive in there.”
Gareth Widdop drops out
Former England international Widdop drops out, with Last revealing that his squad had been hit with illness ahead of their clash with Catalans in Super League.
Widdop, 34, was initially named in the 21-man squad to take on the unbeaten Dragons before a late withdrawal.
Last said following the ‘devastating’ 22-18 defeated: “We had a little bit of diarrhoea in camp while we were over here,” Last said.
“It could be the baguettes or French cheese, I don’t know, but some of the guys have had it really tough.”
Jacob Miller is in contention to face his former club for the first time since making the switch, while Luis Johnson has been named after joining the club on loan from Hull KR.
Adam Milner will serve the second of his two-match suspension.
Castleford squad: Evalds, Eden, Turner, Fonua, Faraimo, Miller, Lawler, McShane, Griffin, Edwards, Mellor, Westerman, Massey, Broadbent, Vete, Mustapha, Smith, Matagi, Hookem, Qareqare, Johnson.
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