Monaghan eyes return

Joel Monaghan will make his return for Castleford from a shoulder injury this Sunday in the friendly against Wakefield.

Monaghan dislocated his shoulder last July and missed the second half of the season.

But the veteran winger is on the hope and is set to take on Trinity at Belle Vue.

“It’s good, I’m starting full contact again now,” he told Love Rugby League.

“Fitness-wise I’m feeling good. I’ve worked hard getting back to that so it’s just getting that shoulder contact back now.

“It’s just a case of making sure that lethal ankle tap I’ve got is still there. Hopefully I can ramp up the contact now and be right for the next game.”

The former Warrington flyer will face stiff opposition this year for a spot in Castleford’s 17.

The Tigers have a stocked backline with the arrivals of Greg Eden and Zak Hardaker. Monaghan is excited by Cas’ recruitment.

“To pick up someone like Greg Eden – I watched him a fair bit back home, I thought he did well at Brisbanem” he said.

“To get someone like that, he’s been unreal in training. And to get Zak last minute, that’s a fair pick up. He’s been training the house down.”

Monaghan believes the Tigers can make the top four this season after the injury problems of 2016.

“Hopefully the injuries are down now, the curse year is done,” he said.

“100% we can make the top four. They way they finished the year, to lose to Warrrington in the Middle 8s in the last second, what was it seven out of eight.

“The young blokes that have played have improved, you can already see at training they’re way better.

“They’ve got more confidence so I think it’s only going to be good for the team.”