Castleford Tigers preview

Last season

A promising campaign ended in disappointment on two fronts for the Tigers, though most crucially of all they did keep their Super League status with a new three-year licence.

On the field, the Tigers always seemed to be in the play-off mix until they fell at the final hurdle, losing a thrilling game at Hull KR that was a shoot-out between the two teams fighting for the last remaining berth.

They had also come up short in the Challenge Cup, going down to Leeds in a golden-point thriller at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium. Castleford led 8-2 with eight minutes to play in normal time but could not hold on, Kevin Sinfield eventually kicking the Rhinos to Wembley.

Rangi Chase's try in that heartbreaking loss was one of many highlights for the half-back - he was crowned Man of Steel for his efforts, beating out big-name duo James Roby and Sam Tomkins to win the prestigious award.

Terry Matterson confirmed in July that he would be leaving the Jungle (or the PROBIZ Coliseum as it became known) at the end of 2011 after six years. Ian Millward is his replacement, the former St Helens and Wigan boss being given a chance to return to the big time after a stint at Leigh Centurions.

Matterson has left the Tigers in a healthy position, not least because of his willingness to blood the club's youngsters in the first team, while the club are also building off the field with a new stadium planned at Glasshoughton.

Ins and outs

The biggest news for Castleford has not been about the arrival of a new face but the retention of a familiar, and pivotal, one.

Chase's decision to sign a new four-year contract (he now admits the town is his "home") was a major coup, with the player turning down lucrative offers from overseas and rugby union to stay put until 2015.

He was not the only player to put pen to paper during the winter months - the Tigers retained the services of Adam Milner, Daryl Clark and Oliver Holmes, three of their academy graduates who impressed a great deal in 2011.

As for new arrivals, Josh Griffin, Lee Mitchell and Steve Nash have been snapped up from Super League clubs, while forward Grant Millington, who spent last year with Canterbury, is the only arrival from the NRL. The squad was completed with the late capture of Australian James Grehan, a centre who last played in France with Limoux.

Such was the strength in his squad and his faith in youth, Millward has been willing to allow experienced full-back Richard Mathers to leave on a season-long loan deal to neighbours Wakefield.

Old heads Nick Fozzard and Dean Widders have also departed, while Willie Isa has moved on to top-flight new boys Widnes after scoring six tries in 11 appearances for the Tigers.

Outlook

By Tony Harber - Pontefract & Castleford Express

It is all change at the top for Castleford Tigers with a new head coach in Ian Millward, a new assistant coach and even a new physio!

Some new luck is also being sought after the agonising near misses of the last two years when a play-off place was taken away from them in virtually the last minute of the last game of the regular season.

Injuries and the lack of a big enough squad played a huge part in the Tigers not quite holding onto the top eight place that had been theirs all year, so it is perhaps surprising that they have not significantly strengthened their squad, with six first-teamers leaving and only four coming in. However, they have done well to tie up several star players already at the club, including Rangi Chase, Richard Owen, Kirk Dixon and Daryl Clark, to long contracts.

With few big signings to get supporters excited pre-season, expectations are realistic - a place in the top eight and a good cup run would be enough for the new coaching team to get the thumbs up in their first year.

Whether they will get there will depend on how they cope with the loss of some experienced players. It has to be said that all the new players - Grant Millington, Josh Griffin, Steve Nash and the on-loan Lee Mitchell - are largely unproven in Super League, but in these too could lie the reason why Cas could just surprise some people this year.

All four certainly have much to play for as it could be make or break time in their respective careers. And they are not the only Tigers with something to prove.

Coach Millward can be put in that category after making his return to Super League after five years away, while within his squad there's the likes of Australian Ryan McGoldrick playing to win a new contract, Richard Owen out to repay the faith in him as the club's number one full-back and Craig Huby and Brett Ferres aiming to prove they have recovered from serious injuries.

It will be a big season for many of Castleford's talented youngsters and in how much they develop further the club's prospects could depend. Exciting hooker Daryl Clark looks the pick of a great bunch of kids, but Joe Arundel, Oliver Holmes, Adam Milner and Jonathan Walker can also make a big impact.

Last, but certainly not least, the Tigers have the Man of Steel in their ranks and in Rangi Chase they have one of the game's most exciting talents. Even he has something to prove as he is bound to be centre of attention after his exploits in 2011 and it will be harder to destroy defences almost single-handed as he did at times last year.

Coach Millward has spoken of working on plans to make the team less reliant on Rangi, but there's no doubt that when he's on song Cas have the capabilities of beating any side in the league, especially at their atmospheric old ground.