Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr has spoken to the media and offered an update on the club’s hunt for a new full-back, whilst also reiterating that he does not want to use the loan market.
Instead, Carr insists that he wants to be able to sign players and build around them, rather than rely on what he believes is a ‘means to an end’ in terms of the loan market.
Castleford have found out this week just how volatile the loan market is as Warrington Wolves recalled winger Jake Thewlis, whilst hooker Tom Forber’s deal has also expired meaning that two bodies who played in round seven will not be available for Sunday’s game against Wigan.
Asked at his pre-match presser if the club were still interested in utilising the loan market this year, Carr responded: “No, I think it’s definitely means to an end. It’s a must have not a want to have.
“I’ve got absolute respect for the guys who have come in and played for us. I think they they tried their absolute best which is all I can ask them, but at the end of the day you want to have a playing squad that that’s yours and you can rely on week in, week out.”
Carr explained that the point of pre-seasons are to ‘build a team mentality and clarity’, something that loanees obviously haven’t benefited from, leading him to add: “I’m hopeful that we can come out the other side of it, get somebody’s back and and get some players even in the door that are out players that I can build and work with.”
Castleford Tigers still targeting full-back replacement
Whilst Castleford fans can’t expect any fresh loan additions, they could see permanent signings coming in as Carr confirmed the Tigers are still trying to recruit, albeit with a longer-term view.
“We’re still actively recruiting people, [but] we’re trying to bring actual players in that are our players,” he said, before confirming that there have ‘been a lot of phone calls’ in the club’s bid to find a full-back replacement after Blake Taaffe’s season-ending injury.
Carr said: “It always hurts you losing a big-name signing like that in round one and it’s one that has a huge impact. We’ve had him and Hoody [Liam Hood] out for the majority of the year, who is your nine and your one.
“It’s not an excuse it’s just a reality and you’ve seen with other teams when you lose key players in spine positions or you lose key players within your team that you bring here to give you some x-factor and give you some attacking ability it’s hard to overcome.
“But, at the same time, we’ve just got to make sure that whoever’s in that jersey for that time does their job. It’s as simple as that.”
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Carr shares Brad Singleton update
One man who hasn’t featured in recent weeks and hasn’t been named in this week’s squad is Brad Singleton with Carr confirming that the veteran has ‘taken some time off for the moment’.
The head coach said: “We’re just working through some stuff with him in the background, but we’ll know a little bit more about that in the coming weeks.
“He’s working hard and he’s a good bloke. He’s a good fella. I’ve known him a long time, so just making sure that we do the best thing [for him].
“I just try and do the best thing for each of my players. I don’t treat them all the same, you’ve got to treat them all in where they’re at in their life and in their stage of their career. It’s day-by-day for him, but he’s working hard in the background.”
