Fresh off confirming the signings of St George Illawarra Dragons paid Damien Cook and Mat Feagai, Castleford Tigers have been linked with yet another player from head coach Ryan Carr’s former team.
Carr has made it clear that he wants to put his own identity on the playing squad and that’s already been seen in 2026 with the mid-season signings of Jack Brown, Tyler Dupree and Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e helping give the coach something to work with.
Looking ahead to 2027 and there are two confirmed NRL recruits as well as the reported signing of Robbie Mulhern from Leigh Leopards, however, the latest report has now linked them with another NRL speedster.
Tyrell Sloan has now been linked with a move to the Tigers and that would be a very interesting one if it comes off, particularly in regards where Castleford Tigers would fit all of their backs.
A natural full-back, Sloan would be competing with 2026 signing Blake Taaffe, whose season ended after one game, recent recruit Laulu-Togaga’e, and young gun Fletcher Rooney, or he could well change position.
We’ve assessed how we think Ryan Carr could name his seven backs in 2027 based on the current signings and this latest report.
What could Castleford Tigers look like in 2027?
Full-back: Tyrell Sloan
Should the Tigers sign Sloan then it would make sense that he play full-back, especially given the heavy overseas investment that they have already made on the wing, another positon he can play.
It would mean that Blake Taaffe bumps into the halves, however, he is comfortable there and with other players off-contract, that could prove handy.
Wingers: Mat Feagai and Jason Qareqare
Jason Qareqare is currently off-contract but he has been exceptional for Castleford this year and the Tigers will surely re-sign him, maintaining the strong left edge partnership that he has formed with Krystian Mapapalangi.
New signing Mat Feagai would likely play on the opposite wing but he could be an option at centre as well but it makes far more sense to play him on the wing.
Centres: Semi Valemei and Krystian Mapapalangi
With Feagai on the wing, it could be a case that 2026 signing Semi Valemei moves in side to centre, a position that he is familiar with. Valemei has not hit the ground running in 2026 with fellow overseas back Mikaele Ravalawa also struggling but with centre Zac Cini off-contract, it could be a battle between Valemei, Darnell McIntosh or a potentially out of position PLT for the right centre spot.
The left centre spot will of course be occupied by Krystian Mapapalangi, who the club have already handed an extended contract to and no wonder why given how impressive he has been.
Halves: Blake Taaffe and Tom Weaver
With Daejarn Asi off-contract at the end of the year, Castleford may allow that contract to run down and move 2026 star signing Blake Taaffe to play that role, with Tom Weaver keeping the reins as the kicking half.
It would potentially be a case of fitting square pegs in round holes but if the Tigers are looking at signing Sloan, then it would appear that six is where Taafee will play.
Other options
As mentioned above, both Zac Cini and Daejarn Asi are out of contract at the end of the year but so too is Louis Senior. The likes of Darnell McIntosh, Semi Valemei and Mikaele Ravalawa are all contracted for 2027 and would potentially be fighting it out for one of the starting spots.
Laulu-Togaga’e would also be in that conversation and given how impressive he has been then perhaps he could be the starting centre, a position he played at Catalans. Youngster Fletcher Rooney and Jenson Windley will also be considered so it could be that Castleford attempt to move on one of their contracted players if they intend to bring in Sloan.
Currently, they have nine overseas players contracted for 2027 with Asi, Cini and Joe Stimson all off-contract, so if they do bring in Sloan then all of those off-contract players would be allowed to leave, or other cuts would have to be made.
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