Liam Watts surprise for Castleford Tigers as Lee Radford’s men gear up for crunch Warrington Wolves clash

Liam Watts is many things for the Castleford Tigers: an enforcer, a ball-playing prop and an experienced player.

But, one of those things not usually included in a description for Watts is a goalkicker.

However, at Castleford, at the end of the captain’s run – the last training session before a game – the players have a goalkicking competition from the sidelines.

Usually it is Kenny Edwards showing up the likes of Mahe Fonua and Suaia Matagi, but this time it was Watts’ turn to show just how deadly he can be in front of the sticks.

With the ball firmly on the sideline, the Castleford prop swung for glory with pinpoint accuracy as the ball headed in between the posts for a conversion that would have made any goalkicker proud.

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Watts and Castleford will be going up against the Warrington Wolves tonight in a must-win game as the Tigers cling on to hopes of a play-off spot, sitting behind the Salford Red Devils on points difference following a poor loss at the Huddersfield Giants last week.

Meanwhile, Watts will be returning from a two-match ban which proved to be his fifth ban of the 2022 Super League season so far, with head coach Lee Radford previously speaking of the former Hull FC man’s need to change.

“Whether he likes it or not, the Match Review Panel aren’t going to change, they will be in their job longer than I am in mine so some adaptation has to be made at this end and that is something we will continue to work in for him to be on the field more next year,” Radford previously told BBC Radio Leeds.

When asked if Watts needs to change with the rules, Radford admitted: “Yeah you want your blokes on the field, particular the high end players on the field as much as possible.

“If it’s not injury it’s usually discipline-related but the game has changed.”