There’s a new era on the way at the Jungle. After eight seasons under Daryl Powell and unprecedented heights for the club in the summer era, the Tigers have a new boss in the shape of Lee Radford.
They’ve also recruited wisely going into the new season with options a plenty across the field. Many are expecting big things at Castleford in 2022, but if they truly want to compete they’ll need a fit and firing Jake Trueman.
Since announcing himself to the league with a mesmeric performance at Wigan in 2017 in the absence of eventual Man of Steel Luke Gale, Trueman has developed into one of the most exciting rising stars in the league. He claimed the Young Player of the Year award in 2018 and is one of the most sought after players in the league.
After months of speculation at the start of 2021, it was revealed that he would be seeing out his contract at Castleford meaning he’ll remain at the Jungle until the end of next season at least. However, there have been rumours suggesting that he could move to the likes of Leeds or Warrington for 2023 or even to the NRL, however his agent Craig Harrison has stressed that no decision has been made about his future yet and that he is keen to focus on achieving big at Castleford in 2022.
He’s taken the first step to doing just that returning to pre-season training after injury ended his 2021 campaign prematurely.
The 22-year-old stand-off has had his fair share of injuries in recent years and didn’t play a Super League game beyond May of last year only appearing in the Challenge Cup semi-final and final after that before a back injury spelt the end of his campaign and the need for surgery.
The surgery was a success with the stand-off confirming at the end of October that he had begun doing little bits to ease his back and prepare for pre-season also stating that his aim was to be back in full training before Christmas and he has accomplished that.
The Tigers posted an image of him back in training this morning with the caption “Jake Trueman is back.”
🤩 @JT6Trueman is 🔙
🎟️ Supporters who donated their season ticket money or are pro rata season ticket holders have until tomorrow to get their 𝘾𝘼𝙎 𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 discount!
🧡 https://t.co/nZ2kXn2tdz#NewCasEra | #COYF pic.twitter.com/1VKXo6VOfK
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) December 12, 2021
With a big year ahead for the Tigers, having Trueman back in the fold is a major boost going into the new season but it remains to be seen if he is still considered Castleford’s first choice stand-off by new coach Radford and if he is who his partner will be. Both Gareth O’Brien and Danny Richardson will be vying for the scrum-half spot whilst his former academy teammate Callum McLelland is back at the club and could feature alongside him.
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