Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr has asserted his confidence that Jason Qareqare will be at the club in 2027 despite recent talk about his future.
Qareqare is one of several players off-contract at Castleford and he’s recently been linked with York Knights, whose head coach Mark Applegarth admitted on Tuesday his admiration for the winger.
Applegarth said: “I’m unable to shed any light on that (if Qareqare has signed) but if there is any news to share then I will make sure I share it on this press conference first.”
A day later and Carr was also asked about the winger and if there was an update on his future, responding: “No, mate. It’s with his management and obviously our club.
“We’re working through that but one thing I know is Jase has played his best footy he’s ever played at the moment. He’s in a great patch of form.”
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Castleford Tigers boss talks off-contract stars as Jason Qareqare praised
Qareqare has been one of the standouts for the Tigers in 2026 and Carr is under no illusion that the club are starting to see the best of the Fijian international.
He said: “What goes into that (form), obviously his own performance, but the people around him and the relationships and the combinations that he’s forming and our system that’s helping bring out the best in his strengths as well.
“He’s in a really good place. He’s enjoying his footy here and we want to make that the case for the next few years.”
Pushed further on if he had any concern that Qareqare won’t be at Castleford in 2027, Carr simply said: “Not from my perspective, no.”
Another off-contract player who Carr lauded the praise on was stand-in captain Joe Stimson, with the head coach declaring: “He’s been unreal. Great leader, great competitor, great person on and off the field.
“He plays some really good footy, and yeah, he is off contract and things will get worked through with that bat the moment, he’s just really focused on week-to-week and day-to-day and making sure he controls.
“It’s what the team’s been focussing on is what the individuals are focussing on at the moment, what they can control that’s in front of them. This week, that’s Catalans.”
The Joker
June 10, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Are Castleford doing their usual thing?
Letting all the good young players leave & then signing washed up expensive rubbish?
Not a good recipe.