Craig Lingard hits back at Jon Wilkin Castleford Tigers comments

Castleford Tigers weren’t in action on the opening night of Super League but their recruitment was a hot point of discussion with Jon Wilkin hugely critical of the club’s recruitment.

Craig Lingard’s side have made plenty of signings but according to Wilkin, none are set to have a major impact with a graphic comically outlining ‘Jon Wilkin’s notable signings for Castleford’ as ‘none’.

Ahead of Castleford Tigers’ first game of the season against Wigan Warriors, the club’s new head coach Lingard was asked about the comments, something he batted down.

Lingard revealed: “I had a bit of a chuckle about that. We’re pretty excited with what we’ve got and pretty happy with it.

“We’ve just ribbed Magsy (Danny McGuire) this morning because he was the only one that got a little bit of a positive slant off Jon Wilkin.

“He was classed as our most exciting signing so I might have to stick a number six shirt on him.”

Jon Wilkin “not excited” by signings made by Castleford Tigers

Castleford Tigers might have made 11 signings in total but none of them excite Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin as he explained on Super League’s opening night.

Wilkin bluntly stated on Sky Sports:  “I mean I could be disingenuous and stand here and say I looked down and I was excited by anything that they’ve signed. I’m not, nor am I too concerned by what they’ve lost. Greg Eden and Gareth Widdop have moved on to Halifax.”

As referenced by Lingard in his presser, Wilkin went on to claim that the most impressive signing made by Castleford Tigers was new assistant coach Danny McGuire who arrived after leaving Hull KR.

“I think Castleford are in a holding pattern. Look, do you know the one shining piece of news for them? Danny Maguire. And it blows my mind, Danny Maguire left Hull KR to join Castleford,” Wilkin told Brian Carney.

“There’s a story there that nobody has talked about, nobody knows, but a great piece of recruitment for Castleford. The key for them this year, I believe is in coaching.

“And maybe with Danny McGuire on board, he can really develop some of their youth players.”

Castleford Tigers have made some very interesting signings though, even if they don’t excite Jon Wilkin, with three former Hull KR players joining as well as Danny McGuire.

Those three are winger Sam Wood, second-rower Luis Johnson and half-back Rowan Milnes, however, the latter is set to miss the start of the season with a shoulder injury sustained against London Broncos.

Lingard has confirmed though that Milnes doesn’t need surgery and could be back sooner than expected, which sadly isn’t the case for captain Paul McShane who could be set to miss six weeks with a hamstring injury.