Castleford Tigers 6-32 Wakefield Trinity: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

Castleford Tigers took on Wakefield Trinity at the Jungle tonight, live on Sky Sports.

It was an incredible first-half from the visitors as an early try from Liam Hood set the tone for the rest of the 40 minutes.

Lewis Murphy scored a controversial try when he rose highest to a Jacob Miller kick, before Matty Ashurst hit the hammer blow as the half-time whistle blew.

It got even worse for Castleford after the break with some shambolic Tigers defence allowing Wakefield to go into a 30-0 lead.

Danny Richardson did manage a consolation score, but the Castleford fans were absolutely shellshocked at the scene that befell them at a packed Jungle as Mason Lino added another two points for a penalty

Highlights

Lewis Murphy running 90 metres was a joy to behold.

David Fifita running in from 30 metres out, taking four men with him was like poetry in motion.

Talking points

1. Castleford lacklustre and tired

The first-half was utterly abysmal from Castleford; they looked like a shadow of their former selves. After putting Catalans, Huddersfield and Hull FC to the sword in emphatic fashion, they were absolutely dreadful and the second-half didn’t get much better with a breakaway Murphy try and a Fifita effort. Where was the motivation from Castleford?

2. Poching masterclass

They have been building for a number of weeks, but even Willie Poching wouldn’t have expected this result before kick-off. Castleford were outenthused and outclassed and you could see from the narrow loss to St Helens last weekend that Trinity were building.

3. Murphy on the rise

Wakefield may lose Tom Johnstone at the end of the season, but they have a more than adequate replacement in Lewis Murphy. He scored a superb double, with his length of the field effort the highlight of the night.

Player ratings

Castleford Tigers

4 Jake Mamo – 5
5 Bureta Faraimo – 5
21 Alex Sutcliffe – 4
17 Mahe Fonua – 4
2 Derrell Olpherts – 5
23 Greg Eden – 4
7 Danny Richardson – 6
15 George Griffin – 2
9 Paul McShane – 4
22 Daniel Smith – 3
11 Kenny Edwards – 3
12 Adam Milner – 3
13 Joe Westerman – 3
Substitutes
8 Liam Watts – 3
10 George Lawler – 2
25 Suaia Matagi – 5
33 Jason Qareqare – 4

Wakefield Trinity

38 Jamie Shaul – 7
18 Lee Kershaw – 7
30 Corey Hall – 8
17 Lee Gaskell – 8
27 Lewis Murphy – 9
6 Jacob Miller – 9
7 Mason Lino – 8
10 Tinirau Arona – 7
9 Liam Hood – 8
15 Jai Whitbread – 9
11 Matty Ashurst – 8
16 James Batchelor – 8
14 Jordy Crowther – 7
Substitutes
8 Eddie Battye – 6
22 Yusuf Aydin – 7
35 David Fifita – 7
37 Josh Bowden – 6