Jake Mamo retires from professional rugby league

Castleford interim head coach Andy Last has confirmed that Jake Mamo has retired from professional rugby league with immediate effect.

The 28-year-old, who joined the Tigers ahead of the 2021 campaign from Warrington, played in two of Castleford’s four games this season.

Last said: “Jake has been suffering a little bit with a back injury and due to medical reasons and with how he is feeling with regards to his body, he has made the decision that he is going to retire from top level rugby league.

“It came as a little bit of a shock but he has suffered a couple of knocks over the last couple of years and a couple of bangs to the head, concussions etc, and could not quite shake off this back injury so he came to that decision.

“He didn’t really show any signs that he was going to come to this decision. He got through the pre-season okay but picked up a knock in one of the games and has struggled to shake it off.

“He’s obviously got some scarring from a mental point of view with regards to some injuries that he has picked up earlier in his career and that has impacted on how he is feeling with performing moving forward.”

Jake Mamo explains his retirement reasons

Mamo made the move to England the NRL in 2017. He spent two seasons with Huddersfield before joining Warrington, where he played for three years.

In total, Mamo made 133 career appearances for Newcastle Knights (29), Huddersfield (25), Warrington (56), Widnes (1 – loan) and Castleford (22).

He said: “There were a lot of factors that came into the decision with the main one being that I’ve suffered too many head knocks and injuries.

“I suffered a bad back injury in my last game against Saints and I couldn’t move for three days after that. I thought to myself that I never want to feel like that ever again.

“Rugby league has given me a lot and also given me the chance to move over here to the UK. I’ve had good relationships with fans at all the clubs I have been at and that is going to be the thing I miss the most.

“The Castleford fans especially because I always spent time after the games getting round to talk to them and they’ve been really good to me.

“I look back on my time at Cas fondly and I have enjoyed my couple of years at the club but felt this was the right decision for me moving forward.”  

A club statement read: “Everyone at Castleford Tigers would like to thank Jake for his time with the club and wish him the very best with his future endeavours.”

Possible reinforcements

Mamo’s immediate release from his contract frees up a quota spot at Castleford.

When asked if the Tigers would look to bring someone else in, Last replied: “I’d love to be able to move quickly but everyone is in the position where it is the start of the season.

“Some guys who maybe aren’t in the team at the moment are waiting for their opportunities depending on players losing a bit of form or players picking up injuries.

“If you look in the market, there are some options out there but what we don’t want to do is rush into it and make a knee-jerk signing.

“We’ve got to bide our time and if an opportunity presents itself to bring someone in, I’m sure the club are actively looking and will strike if and when necessarily.”

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