The head coaches of Castleford Tigers and Hull KR have named their 21-man squads for their Super League game at Wheldon Road on Thursday night, and both sides will be without key names.
This is the first time the teams have faced each other this season, while Castleford have already played Wigan Warriors four times in 2024 already – in fact, the Warriors have played as many games at Wheldon Road as at their home stadium in domestic rugby this season.
Castleford have made two changes to the side that came close to finally toppling the Warriors at the weekend.
Captain Paul McShane remains out of the side, with Liam Horne expected to again take up his role as hooker.
The 2020 Man of Steel has struggled for fitness this year, missing much of the start of the Super League season due to a hamstring injury.
However, their other captain, Joe Westerman, is back in the side, in a major boost, while Muizz Mustapha is also back in the 21.
Liam Watts is out of the side though – he took on a leadership role in the absence of Westerman and McShane last week and will be a blow for the Tigers.
Super League team news: Hull KR without key duo due to injury
Hull KR, meanwhile, have injury concerns of their own.
Second-rower James Batchelor is out of the side, although there’s hope he wont have a long time on the sidelines.
Willie Peters told BBC Humberside after their victory over Huddersfield: “James Batchelor has a tight hamstring.
“At the moment we’re hoping it’s just tightness and a minor strain but I don’t think he’ll be okay for next week.”
On top of this, Matt Parcell is out of the side through injury as well.
The club say this is due to a “minor shoulder injury” that was also sustained in the win over the Giants, and this means both sides are without their first-choice hookers for this clash.
Replacing the two injured men in the squad are Joe Burgess and Jack Fishwick.
Meanwhile, Jack Broadbent returns to Wheldon Road for the first time since joining Hull KR from the Tigers.
Discussion about this post