Castleford Tigers head coach Craig Lingard has confirmed two possible season-ending injuries, including one that happened in training.
Lingard was speaking at a launch event for Magic Weekend with the Tigers set to take on Huddersfield Giants in a game where the winner will go a long way to deciding who finishes ‘top of the bottom four’.
That’s been the stated goal for Castleford Tigers with Craig Lingard confirming so once again after the defeat to Hull KR on Friday night.
Lingard explained: “We’ve got an opportunity to try and get above Huddersfield in that bottom four and try to be the top of the bottom four and that’s our ultimate goal this year. If we can do that, then as negative as it sounds, it’s been a successful season for us.”
The task to finish above the Giants has been made harder now with Lingard confirming two potentially season-ending injuries plus a setback for another starter.
Speaking to BBC West Yorkshire Sport at the launch event for Magic Weekend, Lingard revealed that both Cain Robb and Sam Hall could be done for the season with the latter sustaining his injury in training.
He explained: “Cain is having a scan today, so we’ve not had the results back from that as yet. I’m not expecting to see Cain between now and the end of the season if I’m perfectly honest.
“Hopefully we do, but if we don’t need to play him between now and then and if he is sort of touch and go with a four or five-week injury, then we might as well just let him rehab and get back for the next season.
“Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious that needs an operation, but we’ll assess that after we get the results today.”
On Hall, who is another youngster to have signed a contract extension alongside Robb and many others, Lingard revealed he had fractured his jaw in training but played through it after an incorrect X-ray.
“Sam Hall has unfortunately fractured his cheekbone. Funnily enough, it was a training ground injury before the Salford game so he went for an x-ray but got cleared to play in that Salford game with no issues.
“It was still painful after the Salford game so we sent him back for another x-ray and he’s got four fractures in his cheekbone. He’s managed to play a game with four fractures in his cheekbone, so how they missed it I’m not 100% sure.
“I can’t see us seeing Sam again between now and the end of the season. It’s that stage of the season where you get a few bodies back and then you’re losing a few bodies as well.”
There was a positive update though as he revealed that George Lawler will be back but Corey Hall will be touch and go for the game on Sunday.
“We should also have George Lawler back who missed the game on Friday with his wife giving birth so he’ll be back available for selection.
“Corey Hall has not passed his protocol and is yet to return to play. We’re hoping that he’ll pass that in the next couple of days but he had set back on that one.”
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