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2026 Season Preview: Castleford Tigers
24 Jan 2026
The Tigers will be looking for much improved 2026 Betfred Super League season after several difficult seasons lingering down near the foot of the table. Two eleventh place finishes either side of a tenth-place finish in 2024 haven’t given Castleford fans much to cheer about in recent seasons but under a new club crest they will be hoping the Tigers can roar again.
New head coach Ryan Carr has had a full pre-season to put his stamp on the team, and with a lot of off-season recruitment, and a well-documented rebuild, Cas will be hopeful of more positive times on the horizon.
Despite renewed optimism, however, it is yet to be seen as to whether the Tigers can be competitive and attempt to earn a spot in the Play-Offs for the first time since 2019.
Will we see a Classy Cas in 2026?
January mornings.? pic.twitter.com/2Q5l3OJ0CH
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) January 17, 2026
Ins & Outs:
Ins: Brock Greacen (Newcastle Knights), Blake Taaffe (Canterbury Bulldogs), Mikaele Rivalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons), Semi Valemei (North Queensland Cowboys), Jordan Lane (Hull FC), Jack Ashworth (Hull FC), Renouf Atoni (Wakefield), Liam Hood (Wakefield), Darnell McIntosh (Leigh), Tom Weaver (Gold Coast Titans), Aiden Doolan (Barrow Raiders), Jimmy Beckett (Featherstone), Krystian Mapapalangi (West Tigers)
Outs: George Griffin, Josh Simm, Jeremiah Simbiken, Sam Wood, Innes Senior, Muizz Mustapha, Josh Hodson, Will Tate, Liam Horne, Tex Hoy
Who are the ones to watch?
Incoming fullback Blake Taaffe is being tipped as the Tigers one to watch in 2026 after arriving in the off-season from Canterbury Bulldogs. Despite only featuring four times last season for the Bulldogs, Taaffe does have over 40 NRL appearances to his name across his time with Canterbury and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Another addition to the squad is winger Semi Valemei with the 27-year-old arriving on the back of featuring for Fiji in last year’s Pacific Bowl, even crossing in the final defeat to Papua New Guinea. Standing at over 6ft, Valemei could add some real size and strength on the flank for Castleford.
In focus | Semi Valemei
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) December 15, 2025
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Elsewhere, Joe Stimson who arrived midway through last season could continue to impress after being given the number 13 jersey. Chris Atkin is another player who signed for Castleford in 2025 and could become a crucial part of their spine in 2026.
Let’s also not forget the ever-reliable Alex Mellor, who stood tall for Castleford during some difficult times last season.
Who is the next generation?
Fletcher Rooney and Jenson Windley both signed five-year deals last season with the Tigers locking down two of their future stars on long-term deals. There is no doubt that Castleford have big hopes for the duo who could find themselves slotting into the first team when needed this year.
What are the defining dates?
The Tigers have a run of four home games in five fixtures across May and June and this will be viewed as a great opportunity for them to pick up points.
St Helens and Leigh Leopards visit the OneBore Stadium before newly-promoted duo Toulouse Olympique and York Knights, although a trip to Perpignan to face the Dragons is wedged between the two sets of consecutive home fixtures.
As always, their three fixtures with nearest and dearest Wakefield Trinity are ones to relish. Castleford will host Wakefield in Rivals Round this April and will be hoping to reiterate their emphatic Rivals Round Returns victory last September.
The Tigers have turned up in Rivals Round Returns ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/KHBZcGYtbY
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 5, 2025
What is the 2026 squad list?
1. Blake Taaffe, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Zac Cini, 4. Darnell McIntosh, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Daejarn Asi, 7. Tom Weaver, 8. Renouf Atoni, 9. Liam Hood, 10. George Lawler, 11. Jordan Lane, 12. Alex Mellor, 13. Joe Stimson, 14. Brock Greacen, 15. Jack Ashworth, 16. Joe Westerman, 17. Chris Atkin, 18. Fletcher Rooney, 19. Brad Singleton, 20. Aiden Doolan, 21. Louis Senior, 22. Jason Qareqare, 24. Jenson Windley, 25. Sam Hall, 26. Alfie Lindsey, 27. Cain Robb, 28. George Hill, 29. Ramon ‘Razor’ Silva
Another week closer to RD1 ???
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) January 10, 2026
?? https://t.co/xlpaeQcSU7 pic.twitter.com/UFDvFs7aM9
What are the Tigers' first three games on SuperLeague+?
SuperLeague+ is back for another HUGE year of live action, and this is when fans can watch the Tigers in the opening rounds (UK and Ireland)*
- Round 1: Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors, Sunday 15 February (K.O. 3pm)
- Round 3: Castleford Tigers v Huddersfield Giants, Friday 27 February (K.O. 8pm)
- Round 4: Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers, Sunday 8 March (K.O. 3pm)
*Overseas viewers can watch EVERY Tigers match LIVE every week.
Sign up to SuperLeague+ today to enjoy 130 LIVE games, full match replays, highlights and other exclusive on demand content!
What are the Tigers' Betfred Odds?
Grand Final – 125/1
Regular season winner – 125/1
Top 6 finish – 6/1
Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Winner – Zac Cini 33/1
Click here for the full list of Betfred Super League betting odds
Where can I follow the Tigers on social media?
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The Tigers and 30 years of Super League:
The Tigers have been a staple of Super League across its 30 years featuring in all but two seasons of the competition since its inaugural season in 1996.
Castleford are just one of nine teams to have lifted the League Leaders’ Shield when they dominated the regular season in 2017, finishing ten points above second placed Leeds Rhinos. A dramatic Semi-Final win over St Helens took them to the Grand Final to face off against the Rhinos however it proved one step too far for Daryl Powell’s side as they fell at the final hurdle of Old Trafford.
This was one of eight Play-Off campaigns for the Tigers however they haven’t made it past the regular season since 2019.
The club have enjoyed individual honours as well having had five winners of the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Award across the 30 years of Super League – Adrian Vowles (1999), Rangi Chase (2011), Daryl Clark (2014), Luke Gale (2017) and Paul McShane (2020).
