Pressure-relieving win, pack power, disciplinary concerns and other York Knights v Castleford Tigers talking points

Castleford Tigers came from behind to beat York Knights in what was a pressure-relieving win for head coach Ryan Carr.

Despite trailing 18-12 at half time, Castleford scored two second-half tries to win 24-18 and snap their losing streak that has seen them ship 50 points in each of their last two games.

George Hirst opened the scoring early on but it was far from a rout for Cas who saw their left-edge targeted to leave them trailing at half-time. It was a situation that Castleford have been in plenty of times this season and rather then fold, they rose to the occasion and saw out an important win.

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York Knights and Castleford Tigers talking points

Pressure off Carr

After conceding 50 to both Hull FC and Hull KR in their last two games, this was a must-win game for Castleford Tigers and specifically for Ryan Carr.

He got that win but he also got some response from his side who could have folded after going 18-12 down but the Tigers were resurgent in the second-half as they kicked on and punished York’s mistakes.

With recruitment for next season bringing in players that Carr is keen on, namely two former St George Illawarra players, it seems the club are backing their coach and his players have responded in good fashion, albeit scrappy.

Poor advert for Super League

Whilst it wasn’t one-sided as plenty of games have been this season, it’s a game that will be forgotten very quickly with the quality lacking for long periods.

There were little moments of magic but all in all, this was a game that lacked quality and also dragged on as well due to numerous head injury assessments and/or captain’s challenges.

The scrappy element of the game likely comes through desperation with both sides fighting near the bottom of the table and on the basis of this showing, that’s where both teams will spend the majority of the season.

Pack power wins it

Whilst it was far from the powerful pack display that Wakefield Trinity put on a day earlier, Castleford’s much-maligned forward pack made a difference today.

Alex Mellor is always brilliant but both Brock Greacen and Renouf Atoni got themselves on the scoresheet today with powerful carries, the first of which game after Greacen had forced a knock-on as well.

All season long the Castleford pack has been questioned but they answered the call today when they could have easily folded and that will please Ryan Carr.

Disciplinary concern

It was a game that saw plenty of late shots that will certainly be looked at by the Match Review Panel but perhaps the most dangerous tackle of the day was committed by Paul McShane.

The York hooker contributed to a tackle on Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e that saw the Castleford full-back tipped past the horizontal, something that was punished on field with only a penalty.

However, Sky Sports commentator Rod Studd revealed that video referee James Vella had advised on-field official Marcus Griffiths to show a yellow card, something that didn’t come. With the verdict from Vella being sin bin, it’s near certain that the Match Review Panel will look at the incident.

One man who did go to the sin bin was George Hirst with the Castleford man sent for 10 late on for a high shot on Justin Sangare.

Jesse Dee injury

The Knights captain went off for a HIA and didn’t return in what will be a big blow for York who host Catalans Dragons next up. There remains hope that he didn’t return purely for tactical reasons but given how shakey he looked on his feet and how long the medical team treated him, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear he failed.

More Sky Sports issues

Sky Sports have taken plenty of flak for their coverage this year and despite championing themselves as the home of rugby league, something that’s seen them move to four NRL games per week, their Super League coverage is still lacking.

Today’s example of that was the fact that commentary cut off for approximately five minutes in the first half, something that Rod Studd joked may well have improved viewer experience. Whether that was the case, it’s just the latest in a string of issues on Sky’s Super League coverage.