Castleford Tigers boss insists reports are ‘way off the mark’ amid speculation over Hull man

Castleford head coach Andy Last has rejected any move for a player from Hull, with current #1 Niall Evalds set for an exit.

On Thursday, Last conceded to the possibility that the club may be without starting full-back Evalds in 2024.

The one-time England international is currently sidelined after suffering a pectoral tear, potentially ruling him out the remainder of the season which may have seen the full-back play his final game for Castleford.

Evalds has been limited to just 37 appearances for his current club since his move from Salford ahead of 2021, while he looks set to join Willie Peters’ Hull KR next season.

He remains off-contract at The Jungle beyond the current season, with Last admitting that the club are currently not in a position to offer the player a new deal.

Last recently said: “We haven’t seen the best of him in the two years that I’ve been on board from a first team coaching point of view.

“We’re not in a position at this moment to make him an offer because he’s not playing.

“We need to make sure we spend our budget wisely and at the moment, the fact he’s not playing makes it difficult to really put a strong case forward and definitely make X amount of money available to him from a signing point of view.”

Last denies reported interest for Jamie Shaul 

Last has made no secret of his targets in recent weeks with the transfer window now open, including Papua New Guinea international Nixon Putt.

However, the Castleford coach rejected speculation linking the club with a move for Hull full-back Jamie Shaul.

The 30-year-old has been limited to just one Super League appearance in 2023 under Tony Smith, with Tex Hoy playing ahead of the ex-England international.

Shaul has made more than 200 career appearances since his debut in 2013, and enjoyed a loan spell at Wakefield last year, featuring five times and scoring once at Belle Vue.

“We’ve not looked at Jamie Shaul,” Last confirmed.

“That’s way off the mark, like Ethan Ryan was wide of the mark.”

Castleford host Salford Red Devils on Friday night in Super League, but will be without Alex Mellor (failed HIA), Liam Watts (suspension) and Bureta Faraimo and Elliot Wallis due to respective injuries.

Will Tate and Jacob Hookem return to the squad, as well as Alex Sutcliffe.

Young forward Aaron Willis also makes his first appearance in the 21-man squad this season. 

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