Playmaker injured for Tigers as Powell gives squad update

Daryl Powell has revealed that Suaia Matagi will make his debut for Castleford against Warrington this weekend, but that Gareth O’Brien will sit out.

“Sui (Matagi) will play; I’m looking forward to seeing him on the field as it’s been a while waiting for him to make his debut,” Powell stated.

“I think he’s looking forward to it and he’s been training well so he’ll be on the bench for us.

“He just wants to get out there and get his game legs and lungs – you can train as much as you want, but once you get out on the field it’s different.

“Tyla Hepi will come back into the mix, but other than that we will be pretty much as we were.

“Gaz O’Brien has injured his calf, so it’s a disappointing injury for him.

“He’s a little bit down at the moment and he will be out for a while, but Jacques O’Neill will be back next week.

“Danny Richardson played well last week so we’ve got a bit of depth there this year.”

Powell has challenged his players to be a lot better than they were against Hull KR last weekend.

“When you lose it’s all about how you respond and what you’re going to do next, but we haven’t been able to train much because its been a short turnaround.

“It’s all about getting your body ready and having a final run through – these are the most difficult games for players physically, but we’ve got to get used to it because there’ll be more of these down the line.”

Powell still maintains that the decision to announce his departure in March was the correct one.

“It is what it is; I did what I did right at the start of the season and did it for the right reasons and then since then, what’s happened with rumours has happened.

“I’m a Castleford Tigers coach at the minute and the scrutiny doesn’t mean anything.

“I’m just focused on the team I’m coaching at the moment, and I’m not going to get sideswiped.”