There is an injury crisis at Castleford Tigers, admits head coach Lee Radford heading into their Super League fixture with Wigan Warriors this weekend.
Every available player is included that Radford has at his disposal.
“The 21 I’ve named is the 21 I’ve got,” Radford told BBC Radio Leeds. “They’re creeping up again on the old injury front.
“For some of the long-term lads the break (for the Challenge Cup Final) has helped and we get another break soon but I’ve only got 21 available players.
“You know it’s a struggle when I’ve the list of injured players is almost as long as the lads who are fit.”
Niall Evalds and Sosaia Feki are expected to return after the international break in some twist of good fortune for the Tigers.
Castleford will go up against Wigan – a side that has just won the Challenge Cup Final and Radford hopes that they will still be nursing hangovers – as his Hull FC side did on the two occasions he won the cup.
“We turned up drunk to both games but pulled up alright,” he joked.
“We got beat on both occasions but did okay to say we had just come out of the pub. Hopefully they’re (Wigan) still drinking now.”