Daryl Powell: Castleford need to learn how to win big games

Castleford coach Daryl Powell admitted his side need to learn how to cope with high-pressure games if they are to be successful.

The Tigers missed out on a place in the Super League Grand Final as they fell short to a 14-0 defeat against Wigan Warriors in the semi-final on Friday.

Castleford lost to Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford last year and they have failed to reach the big stage this time around, and Powell admitted that their mentality needs to change.

He said: “We have had a really good year under testing circumstances but it is going to be tempered by how it has ended.

“We just weren’t good enough and that’s two years on the trot that we have sat in the changing rooms at the end of the season when we haven’t been able to win a big game, so there is clearly a mind-set change needed.

“Our pre-season needs to reflect that and I’ve been thinking about that anyway, but I thought tonight just showed that our mentality needs to change a bit.

“We have got in the top four again but when it gets down to the big games, it gets different and we aren’t good enough to win them games at the moment, so we have got to find a way of being able to convert that into wins and Grand Final wins. We aren’t good enough at the moment and it is as simple as that.”

Castleford’s key man Jake Trueman didn’t play in the semi-final due to a broken hand and Powell admitted that the Tigers missed him.

He added: “His kicking game is very dangerous and for a young player, he is very calm.

“Benny Roberts hasn’t played much at half-back this year and Jake was a miss for us, but injuries happen. We have been unlucky at times and Junior Moors was a miss as well. Hopefully we will get a bit more luck on the injury front next year.

“We aren’t going to be signing too many players (in the off-season) and I said that to the boys so we have got to find a different way that allows us to go to places like Wigan and get over the top of the opposition.”