Castleford Tigers coach Luke Robinson has spoken to the media ahead of the club’s final game of the 2026 Super League season, covering a range of topics of interest at the club.
Among those were this week’s squad selection, including who was not selected and why, as well as what the status of off-season signing Blake Taaffe is after his ACL injury in round one of this year’s competition.
Robinson also spoke on the retirement and exit of club legend Joe Westerman, who hangs up his boots after almost two decades as a professional and his second stint at Castleford.
Asked by Serious About Rugby League for his thoughts and a tribute on the outgoing forward, Robinson, who was only been at the club less than a month, said: “Look, I can’t talk about it from a coach’s perspective or even really a player’s perspective. He was a good player in his day.
“I think he’ll go down in Castleford folklore. I can’t say much more than that. I’ve never played with him. I’ve never coached him.”
Robinson also stopped short of confirming that all departures had been confirmed when asked if more players could be set to move on.
He explained: “I’ve been privy to passing conversations and being involved a little bit, but it’s above my pay scale.
“Obviously, when I’ve been asked opinions on certain aspects of the club, I’ll always chime in but that’s not my department.”
Since those comments, the club have confirmed that captain Alex Mellor will leave despite being contracted for 2027.
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Castleford Tigers coach explains squad omissions
One man who Robinson has coached in recent weeks but who will not feature this weekend against Huddersfield is winger Mikaele Ravalawa and Robinson confirmed that was a selection decision.
“I thought Ravs needed a rest. That was selection. I just felt like we need a bit of a change in that department,” he explained.
The winger is under contract for another two seasons at Castleford but Robinson was still asked about the Fijian’s future given the signing of outside backs Mat Feagai and Tyrell Sloan, though the assistant again admitted: “It’s really difficult for me to talk about him, if I’m honest. I haven’t been here. I’ve only been here for a matter of weeks… It’d be wrong of me to comment.”
Another who misses out this week is Renouf Atoni with Robinson explaining: “Atoni, he’s been troubled with the Achilles problem for a long time. However many weeks, we’ve been sort of rolling him out there, trying to get something out of him and it’s just a case of it was just basically one too far, really.
“It’s a case of rather than it snapping and doing long-term damage, we just pull him out of this situation.”
He also confirmed that Sam Grice, who would make his debut if he played, wasn’t likely to play but was a player with plenty of promise heading into 2027.
Robinson said: “He’s close. I’m not sure he’s going to make it this week, if I’m honest.
“He’s a player that’s had a lot of good wraps on him, done a lot of good things. He’s actually been on loan and for a young lad, he’s actually played in some environments where he’s been playing against adults in the first-team environment, albeit in the Championship.
“He’s a player that we’ve got high aspirations of. It seems like he’s making them steps, really good steps, really. He’s not far off. He’s got a little bit more improvement in which all the young players have always got, but he’s on the right trajectory.”
Blake Taaffe update issued
One man who has been out long-term is star signing Blake Taaffe but Robinson has confirmed that he expects the ex-NRL man, and all other currently injured Castleford players, to be fit and firing for day one of pre-season.
The assistant coach explained: “My understanding is everybody who was injured at this moment in time, and we’ve got a fair few injuries of Castleford, that they will all be fit and firing and go next year in pre-season.
“Day one of pre-season, everybody should be ready to go and have a really good pre-season.”
As for his own thoughts on Taaffe, he said: “What I can gather is he’s a really good bloke to have around the group. He’s a real energiser.
“From my knowledge of him when I’ve watched him, he’d be like getting a new player. I feel like Castleford have got a fair few players that haven’t even played this year and I feel like when they come back next year, it’s like having a new player because they haven’t really stepped on the field.
“I’m really excited to work with him next year. I’m really excited for him to play a part next year. I think he’ll be really good for us.”
