“Castleford Tigers Coach Teases More Salford Signings and Reveals Shocking Health Scare!”

“Castleford Tigers Coach Teases More Salford Signings and Reveals Shocking Health Scare!”

Castleford Tigers head coach Danny McGuire has confirmed the club could still sign more Salford Red Devils players in the coming weeks whilst also revealing that ab illness scare left one of the club’s influential players in “a bad way” in hospital.

Veteran loose-forward/prop Joe Westerman missed Tigers’ home win against Salford Red Devils two weeks ago, but has been named in coach the initial squad for Saturday’s visit of Catalans Dragons.

McGuire revealed: “He was in hospital for a few days; he was in a bad way, they had to get him on a drip.

He has lost a fair bit of weight and he has only just been back in training this week, but he looks like he has slotted in okay and is finding his feet again. He is fine now and available for selection, but I think this week might come a bit too soon for him.”

Tigers have lost teenage sensation Fletcher Rooney to a long-term quad muscle injury, but Rowan Milnes is set to make his comeback in the halves against Catalans, with Tex Hoy switching to full-back. Prop Brad Singleton will be in the 17 for his debut, just three days after joining Castleford from Salford Red Devils.

McGuire admitted to being “devastated” at the loss of Rooney, who has been outstanding for Tigers this year. He said: “He has been so good – he is such a good young player.

“He has a brilliant attitude and he is a great kid. We were just in practice and he accelerated to go for a ball and he has done something to his quad.

He is going to be out for maybe four months, but he will do everything right. He is already a really good professional at 19 years old and I am sure he will be back and fighting fit in no time.

“It is a big loss for us, he was keeping everyone on their toes and playing really well so we will definitely miss him, but we have to soldier on and it gives somebody else an opportunity.”

The Tigers boss played alongside Singleton, who became available because of Salford’s long-running financial crisis, at Leeds Rhinos from 2011-2017 and reckons the 32-year-old will be “good value” for Castleford.

“I feel bad for their situation, nobody wants to see it,” he said of the Red Devils, who have also recently lost Marc Sneyd and Tim Lafai. “But Singo became available and obviously I played with him and know him really well.

“He’s a good friend and wanted to come and be part of what we are trying to do. It happened pretty quickly and we’ve got him in for this week.”

Salford are restricted to a salary cap of just £1.2 million, which meant Singleton wasn’t able to play for them. McGuire added: “He is no spring chicken now, he is getting to the back end and he wants to play – he needs to play and I think he is going to be good value to us with his leadership and experience and everything he brings.

“He knows his job and his role, he doesn’t complicate things and I feel like we’ve needed somebody like that – really steady and professional. He is going to be a good addition to the team.”

McGuire hasn’t ruled out moves for other Salford players if their situation doesn’t improve. “They’ve created a good team and culture and it seems like everyone’s just trying to pick at it,” he conceded. “But ultimately that’s the way it is; that’s the game and we have to be in a position to strike if there’s someone who catches our attention – and we are.

“If something happens we are in a position to make a move on some of their players. I’m not going to mention individuals, but we are ready if it becomes available.”