Castleford Tigers look to roar into the playoffs; World Club Series now an added bonus

So after 26 rounds it’s all come down to 80 minutes. Ahead of the final fixtures, Castleford could finish anywhere from top of the table or fifth.

That’s the incredible part of how this season has unfolded. I’ve spoken before about how no one has really, except maybe Saints for a period, grabbed hold of the competition.

To be going into the final round and still be able to end up in so many positions is quite incredible. It speaks volumes about how the top six have been consistent all year long, but also how they can beat each other. That makes it a more exciting competition, without a doubt.

Coming into the playoffs people will have their favourites, and the more experienced teams will probably be heralded as the ones that can go all the way. But everybody has beaten everybody on their day.

While the outcome wasn’t what I wanted, the whole final experience was phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal. It is something I will treasure forever.

It feels the most competitive Super League I’ve ever known, but then I’m in a winning team. In truth, though, I can’t recall a season previously where it has all come down to the last. I know that licensing is a bit of a naughty word around Super League these days, but perhaps this is a sign that it has worked…

Tough challenge

We at the Tigers face a tough challenge as a team in having to go away to Catalan Dragons. Irrespective of what is on the line right now, going there is always a tough challenge.

Catalans have to deal with the travelling every other week, so I’m not going to complain about that. It’s uncommon for us of course, and it’s heading into a hostile environment against a very good French team that play with intensity. It is a hard place to go and win.

The week before the playoffs is obviously not ideal to be making such a journey. Now we just have to go there and do a job, though hopefully Huddersfield will have done us a favour by then on Friday night.

For us the desire is to be in that top two – if we win at the weekend we could achieve that, and more importantly it gives us that home semi-final. That would be huge for us, while also being a fair reflection of how far we have come and how much hard work we have put in.

Live First Utility Super League

We spoke about that post-Wembley, about the importance of not letting our standards slip. Daryl (Powell) actually spoke about that before the Tetley’s Challenge Cup final, about making sure we didn’t hang our hat on that one game.  We had to make sure we didn’t go into a downward spiral afterwards.

You have to give credit to the coaching staff, because they have been a really positive influence since that defeat to Leeds Rhinos. We haven’t quite been at our best since, but we crucially haven’t lost. Had we done so, people would have talked about suffering with a Wembley hangover.

Experience

While the outcome wasn’t what I wanted, the whole final experience was phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal. It is something I will treasure forever.

Obviously the result was disappointing, both personally and for the club as a whole. I don’t think that’s anything new, any player who goes there and comes out on the wrong end of the result would be disappointed.

But the experience, what I went through emotionally and what I went through with my family, who all had a great time, was fantastic. It was just a shame we couldn’t win it.

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Of course, if we were to claim the League Leaders’ Shield then it would now come with an added bonus.

Being crowned minor premiers would also mean automatic qualification for the newly-named World Club Series, the expanding Club Challenge that will now see three teams involved from both Super League and the NRL.

The British rugby league community have shown how much support they have for the game by the way they got behind the World Cup last year. By bringing three of the biggest teams from Down Under to play games, I’m sure people will come out in their droves.

They’ll be exciting games, too. I know we at Castleford would relish the opportunity to test ourselves against the best of the NRL. It would be nice to have that focus in the off-season, plus the fans would love it. Such an event would give Castleford a bit of international recognition.

Hopefully it works out well for everyone that is involved. Before anything can be contemplated, though, there’s that last hurdle to clear. On we go to Perpignan…