Chris Chester has explained that good things are coming for Castleford Tigers but he’s also warned the playing group that they cannot look past 2026, claiming that the IMG performance points up for grabs remain important.
The Tigers sit 11th in Super League, level on points with ninth and tenth, Toulouse and York, though Chester has insisted that Castleford can still finish eighth. That’s where Catalans Dragons currently sit, four points clear of the Tigers and with a points differential that is significantly better, however, Chester spoke on Thursday to assert that finishing best of the rest is achievable.
“We can’t take an eye off 2026 because there’s obviously some important games coming up in terms of the IMG points,” he said when previewing the clash against 12th-placed Hull FC.
“It’s important that we finish as far up that ladder as we possibly can. Eighth is still a target. We’re two wins away from Catalans.
“The ball’s in our court. It’s been tough on those fans. I want to thank them for the support they’ve given us this year. Hopefully we get plenty of fans there tomorrow night.”
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Chester was clear that he and those at Castleford are well aware of the situation they are currently in, without head coach Ryan Carr for a second week running on account of ‘personal reasons’ and in the midst of a run of form that has seen them concede 144 points in just three games.
On that situation, he admitted: “I think it’s been unsettling for everybody. It’s obviously unsettled the fans. It’s had a big disruption within the day-to-day running of things here at the club.”
Despite that acceptance, he called on players to turn up and do their jobs, stating: “Their job is to turn in to training four or five days a week and give everything on a weekend, on a Friday night or a Sunday night, whenever that is.
“At the end of the day, the players know what their job is and what we need to do. It’s my job, it’s Scott [Murrell]’s job, it’s Rob Nikolay’s job, people in and around the coaching set-up to make sure that they perform to the best of their abilities.
“We haven’t done for a number of weeks, but we’ve got a run of games now that we see as more than winnable, and I think it’s important for us that we finish the season well.”
Ending well could well be a springboard for what Chester believes are brighter times to come, as he added: “I know it’s been a very difficult time for the Cas fans. Trust me, everybody feels it at the moment. I think there’s some real good things around the corner.”
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