Castleford Tigers head coach Craig Lingard has explained why he left out one of his usual starters this weekend.
The Tigers beat Hull FC 39-20 away at the MKM Stadium this weekend, meaning the Tigers can’t now finish below tenth in the league.
It was a low-quality game of rugby league, but the Tigers proved too strong – despite it looking like it could have gone Hull FC’s way early in the second-half.
Academy graduate Jenson Windley won man of the match (voted by the Castleford fans) in this first-team debut last week against Warrington Wolves, and he continued his promising form with another good performance – which included his first Super League try.
Lingard was full of praise for the young half after the game, but explained: “It might be that we play next week and leave Rowan on that left and bring Milky (Jacob Miller) back in on the right, or we might leave Jenson in there.
“That’s something we’ll have to consider as the week progresses and see how people are travelling and what we think is going to be the best for the development of our team, not only for this year but for next year as well.”
Windley playing meant there was no room for Jacob Miller in the halves, who has made 22 appearances in Super League this season, only missing one game all season until this one.
“That rotation that we talked about, trying different combinations, obviously trying Rowan at that left half as well, but keeping Jenson in there because he played well last week.
“He’s been carrying a bit of a knock as has [Jacob Miller] as well, he’s been playing injured for a while and he’s been putting his hand up and I can’t speak any higher than that for his attitude and putting his body on the line for the team.
“It just gives us an opportunity to leave him out this week and give him a bit of a rest because he picked up a niggle last week on his ankle again.
“If we wanted him to play, or needed him to play, we would have done it. He would have put his hand up and he would have played.
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