Manly prop, that’s Manly as in sea eagles not manly as in tough, Toafofoa Sipley for 2026 hopefully CTID

pirate Be a great start,given his current salary and needing to remain within the salary cap I’d assume he’d be a marquis player. Mat Croker would probably fall into the same category,there were rumours about him last season but he signed a one year extension to stay in the NRL. Be a real statement of intent if we could even get one of them. But if we’re going to go down the Marquis route we desperately need a half back.

It`s a start, just need another 10 or 12 high quality players to join him. At the moment, assuming Amone goes, we have about 6 maximum who are SL standard, Hoy, Rooney, Senior, Quarequare, Lawler & Mellor. The rest would struggle to get into any of the Championship teams.. Two centres, 2 half-backs, and 6 forwards are the minimum we need.

stuey Well thats put the dampers on my enthusiasm, back down to Earth I come 🤣 😭😭😭 CTID

Can’t see any way we’ll be getting 10 players in for next season even though we probably need that many. All of Stueys list have contracts for next season with the exception of Lawler so that’s a decent start. George is one of seven out of contract at the end of the season but the only one I’d want to see renewed, Simms maybe as a squad player. Westy been a great servant but maybe had his time and the rest Milnes included just aren’t good enough. So unless we’re going to pay some off early I’d say six new faces max unless we get some more significant investment. Rooney once fit again is one of the best youngsters out there,Matveyev and Windley are knocking on the door. A couple of Marquis signings would be a dream but that wouldn’t leave much to spend on the rest of the squad. Not all doom and gloom but then you remember who’s in charge of recruitment. 🤷🏼

I’d expect us to bring players in but it’ll take time. The next problem is whose players are they. If they are DMs players then they might not fit should his way of playing not work and he gets the boot. We don’t know if Mr Jepson is a kneejerk reactor or takes advice and takes time to decide. I suppose that’s why Chester is believed to be coming in. Mr Jepson can bring in and get rid of players whenever if he’s prepared to spend the money and we are doing it at the moment to some extent, ala Namo. This is going to take time but it needs the right people to take advice from.

if he has the desire & the money, which he appears to have, then its a new team we need because we have accumulated some of the worst players i have seen in a cas jersey, utter rubbish except maybe one or two & perhaps a new coach?

Definitely a new coach. If your up to it McGuire would have least improved the team, which he asnt. We could have the Aussie national team and McGuire would take it backwards. I’ve seen more heart, spirt, motivation and structure down at lock lane. McGuire is out of his depth. He should have started in the championship and work is way up.

Hearing Horne on his way out. Was awesome last year but playing reserves now. I think he’d make the right 13 but does DM.

i wonder whats gone wrong with horn, is it that he has fallen out with mcguire as i cant believe hes turned into a poor player after last year?

Rumour I heard was that he had to put on weight to play for PNG as he wouldn’t get in at hooker. So a backrower/13. Can’t/won’t lose it and the coaching staff aren’t happy. If Mr Jepson is convinced with DM being the man then I can’t fault him for backing him 100%. Powell got the same backing and did well.

2026 rebuild

Hepworth

Desperately hoping for news of one kind or the other,hopefully the coach who can then have a say in recruitment. I know the club are desperate to get the decision right but every day you’re hearing Wire are looking at Dodds or Jake Arthur is heading for Hull, uncertainty at an already unfashionable club won’t help.

RaoulDuke

Chester says there’s lots of announcements to come and hopefully the head coach Friday.

If like some good news on the ground and then signings but with the head coaches blessing.

Hepworth

RaoulDuke Yes I’m looking forward to some positive news this week on the playing/coaching front. As for the ground redevelopment I know as much as everyone else as to where we are with regards to the main stand but I am aware that quotes are being prepared for the recladding of the Princess Street and Wheldon Road stands.

RaoulDuke

Hepworth if we could complete the ground except the main stand it’ll be great. But we need to push on with the main stand in some guise.

Hepworth

Looks like Paul Rowley will finally call time on his Salford adventure at the end of the season,we could do far worse.

Maturecasfan

Hepworth

Maybe that’s why Chester as put the announcement back of the new coach.
He could be a late applicant .
Twists and turns hey.

Hepworth

Maturecasfan Yep,crossed my mind too,his loyalty to Salford speaks volumes for him and they also played a nice brand of rugby when he had the tools at his disposal,add to that the improvement he managed to eke from the players and the loyalty they showed him and there’s not much missing for a coach.

Matt

Said all along we should be targeting him for the appointment. Feel his style of coaching would suit us perfectly.

yorky

the problem i see with Paul Rowley is if he had wanted the job he would have let Chris Chester know & not wait until Salford had become untenable, i just feel it could be another Lee Radford who never seemed settled at Cas

pirate

yorky
I’m not too sure about Rowley myself, I would prefer Michael Crawley, a hungry young coach rather than a bloke looking for a job because his empire is collapsing.
The young ambitious coach was Chesters own requirement and I feel Rowley is a step backwards.

But what do I know

CTID

Hepworth

pirate I get yours and Yorky’s point,others do seem to fit the original brief better,and if we are looking at being more innovative moving forward the younger less care worn coach might be the way to go.

Maturecasfan

My fear is, if in the first 18 months and it is Carr, will he call ‘I’m home sick’ and asked to be released from his contract if things don’t go to plan.

yorky

with our recent history it must be the most daunting task for Chester as hes on a hiding to nothing, whoever he chooses it simply has to work?

RaoulDuke

It’s actually nice to hear people talking about excellent coaches out there wanting the job. Normally it’s a case of whether even one would get the fans backing.

The club remit points to Carr, there are certainly other good coaches in the NRL that want it but are a bit short of a head coach role previously.
Then Rowley, who has certainly been outstanding for Salford.

It’s a tough choice we have to get right.

RaoulDuke

Simm to Catalans reported. He was one on my list to keep for the right price. Tbh. I’m not devastated.

Hepworth

RaoulDuke Funny one Simms,came through the Saints system as a centre but made his Super League appearances for them covering for injuries on the wing,and he’s been used largely in that role for us,he certainly defends like a centre playing winger. I’d like to have seen him have a consistent run at centre but with the injuries to the Seniors and QQ we haven’t had that luxury.No idea what the club has planned for the backs,unconfirmed rumours that Wallis is returning and one of the Seniors departing. Like for like for me that,with Djeukessi coming through that would be 4 out and out wingers but little in the centres. If the price was right Simms would have offered decent cover but I can see the lure of going to Catalan. Fair play to him,personally I’m starting to think our squad could be about to change in a way I hadn’t imagined.

RaoulDuke

Just been having a think in regards our overseas players….

Hoy, our best fullback in attack and defence. To keep

Cini, there’s a player in there occasionally but Nene McDonald or Masters would be a step up

Asi, coming along nicely, to keep

Stimson, like him and works hard, will get better

Horne, in last year’s form a shoe in, to many bans and irregular performances.

Simbiken, when on the field great, too many bans and injuries, can he change so late in his career?

Greacen, could be a good buy. Young and hungry.

Atoni, could be fantastic when he’s on the field.

We need a winger, centre, and a half back,

Ultimately, we have 10 spots and need to use them all whilst bringing in home grown talent.

With props/ loose forward expected to be, singleton, Stimson, greacen, Lawler, ashworth, atoni and Sam hall. keep westy well and that’s enough

Second row of mellor, lane and simbiken,

Robb , hill at 9.

That leaves 6 spots for the 7 backs

Hepworth

In Windley,Rooney,Matveyev and Djeukessi we have a sprinkling of youngsters pushing for a squad place and behind them Lindsey and Sarbah coming through so there is promise. Pack wise we’re going to have options we have experienced guys who can play long minutes and someone like Atoni who is the type of impact player we’ve struggled against this season. Greacen I’ve an idea may turn out to be better on the edge than in the front row and I’ve always thought that about Lawler. Mellor is a lock,Stimson can hopefully improve with an off season behind us,Simbiken I think we know what we’re getting when he’s fit,useful but rash. Another twelve months for Westy,for his leadership quality if nothing else. Much depending on who is going now. Hopefully not Tex, Robb not kicked on as much as I’d hoped but has the talent perhaps with the new coach who I was kind of expecting to be announced today. I do enjoy all the rumours and second guessing but come on fellas,imagine the buzz tomorrow if we get a name out there.

Maturecasfan

Hepworth

Rumour going around robb off to Leeds.

RaoulDuke

Maturecasfan would be a bad idea but if he’s out of contract he can choose.

Maturecasfan

Castleford have chosen their next head coach. Announcement set for Monday providing personal terms can be agreed. Chris Chester specifically name-checked Ryan Carr, Jim Lenihan and Ian Watson as candidates this morning. I’d expect it to be one of those.

Aaron bower Twitter.

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