Super League star set to return after compassionate leave

Castleford Tigers have only won two games this season but could have a major boost.

That is because Andy Last confirmed last night on BBC Radio Leeds that Mahe Fonua could be back after spending time down under on compassionate leave.

The Tigers need a boost after losing comfortably last night to Leigh Leopards leaving the Tigers four points off the top 10 and well off the pace in the play-off race.

The Tigers opened the scoring after a scoreless opening 15 minutes and it was Joe Westerman who charged over despite the efforts of the defending Leopards.

It didn’t take long for the home side to respond and they did so through Ben Reynolds who then converted his own try to tie it up at 6-6.

Both sides saw handling errors as they traded sets in what was a tight final 20 minutes of the first half, but ultimately neither side could break the other.

Leigh soon changed that though as they started the second-half strong and took the lead via Kai O’Donnell on the 50 minute mark to make it 12-6.

The Leopards then compounded Castleford’s misery by scoring once again straight away, this time through big man Ava Seumanufagai, and Reynolds’ trusty boot added the extra to make it 18-6.

From that point on the Leopards were in cruise control and a further five minutes later they extended through centre Rickey Leutele who was first to a kick in behind.

Ben Reynolds kept his perfect record up and the conversion put the game well out of the Tigers’ reach at 24-6 with just 15 minutes to go.

Five minutes from the finish Leigh added another through Matt Davis and Reynolds maintained his record to make the game 30-6 and a resounding victory for the Leopards.