Director of rugby Chris Chester admits Castleford Tigers are down to the bare bones this week as they prepare to take on Catalans Dragons.
However, Chester is hopeful that three players could be passed fit enough to make a return to action next week when the Tigers face Leigh Leopards.
Chester has been forced into a number of changes this week, with Tex Hoy, Sam Wood and Joe Westerman dropping out of the fold. Hoy has been included in the last couple of squads but he is yet to make a return to action after missing the last two and a half months with a calf injury.
He was due to feature last week against Leeds Rhinos, Chester has confirmed, but a setback late last week saw him ruled out for another week or so at least.
Meanwhile, Westerman has been struggling with a knee injury and Wood has picked up a wrist issue, ensuring they won’t be making the trip to Perpignan.
Chester is hopeful that Hoy, Zac Cini and Jason Qareqare will be in a position to return to action next week, though, with the latter making just one appearance all season.
Castleford Tigers injury latest
“It’s an injury,” Chester said, explaining Hoy’s absence from this week’s 21-man squad. “He came back from a calf and then he couldn’t even do the team run. He was pulled.
“We trained all last week with Tex and we’d got plenty of load into him. We had a day off and he came in the following day for the team run and he couldn’t even warm up. It just seems like two steps forward and three back sometimes with some of these players.
“Westy has an issue with his knee and calf and he had to leave the field last week. Sam Wood has an issue with his wrist.
“We’re hopeful for Tex next week. We’re hopeful on potentially Zac Cini and Qareqare, so there’s some outside backs there but we are seriously down to bare bones. I think we’ll be taking 19 with us to France.”
