Castleford Tigers Head Coach Andy Last has unveiled his 21-man squad that will face off against the Leeds Rhinos at the highly anticipated Magic Weekend event in Newcastle this Saturday. Sponsored by GeoShield, Castleford’s squad news brings excitement and anticipation to the clash.
This marks the second consecutive year that the Fords will go head-to-head with Leeds at this annual extravaganza, with Castleford aiming to secure back-to-back victories over their local rivals in the year 2023.
The Tigers’ last encounter with the Rhinos took place in March at their home ground, The Jungle, where an impressive brace by Bureta Faraimo secured a memorable 14-8 victory. Building on that success, both teams are determined to rebound from recent defeats.
Castleford suffered a setback against Huddersfield, narrowly missing out on victory, while Leeds faced disappointment at the hands of St Helens, losing due to a golden point-winning drop goal by Lewis Dodd at Headingley.
Despite the challenges, Last has made just one change to the squad that faced the Giants last week. Jason Qareqare, who returns from his loan stint at Bradford, takes the place of Alex Sutcliffe in the lineup. Moreover, Joe Westerman is poised to make his 400th career appearance on the day, adding a special milestone to the occasion.
Below is the 21-man squad for Castleford Tigers in their clash against Leeds Rhinos:
- Jordan Turner
- Mahe Fonua
- Bureta Faraimo
- Gareth Widdop
- Jacob Miller
- George Lawler
- Paul McShane
- George Griffin
- Kenny Edwards
- Alex Mellor
- Joe Westerman
- Nathan Massey
- Jack Broadbent
- Muizz Mustapha
- Suaia Matagi
- Cain Robb
- Brad Martin
- Elliot Wallis
- Sam Hall
- Jason Qareqare
- Liam Watts
The Tigers’ lineup boasts a formidable combination of experience and talent, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown at the Magic Weekend. Rugby league fans eagerly await this clash between Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos, ready to witness an intense battle between two fierce competitors.
