Hi again everybody! It's Ash here with my second blog which is my preview for the 2012 season with Castleford Tigers! If you haven't already read my first blog HERE.
The off season has been very slow even if the 4 Nations only finished a few month ago which England reached the final of after beating New Zealand in the semi final (Yes England defeated the World Champions!!) England came up short with Australia being class on the day. This was also my first ever international game I've been to and i assure you it will not be my last! The video below this is the National Anthems just before kick off. Anyway lets start with the preview!
After a truly fantastic 2011 season the Tigers need to produce some of the magic that earned us a spot in Super League for the next 3 years (Subject to change) and a place in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup just a drop goal away from Wembley and what ended up in us just missing out on that 8th final play off spot.
With Terry Matterson, Dean Widders, Nick Fozzard, Greg Eden, Martin Aspinwall, Willie Isa also Richard Mathers going on loan to Wakefield Wildcats and the two Lonee's Rob Parker and Ben Davies moving on the tigers needed to recruit well and fans were told that we'd be signing "Quality Players". Did we? Read on to find out.
Well the off season was the most anticipated off-season for a while with long serving head coach Terry Matterson leaving to take up a role back home, we appointed former Wigan, St. Helens and Leigh head coach Ian Millward. As per you'd have everyone with split opinions some excited about the appointment and some not so happy about it. I admittedly don't know alot about other players/coaches outside of Cas so i did some research but i thought it seemed a pretty damn good appointment I mean come on we could of appointed Andy Hay (No disrespect) personally i don't think you can judge them before they've even took charge of their first game.
With Rangi Chase dominating the off-season with endless speculation he's leaving and after winning The coaches, sponsors and website awards from the clubs annual awards night. He also won the Albert Goldthorpe medal, earning a place in the 2011 super league dream team and the Cas Forums player of the year and after all them awards he's was shortlisted for the most prestigious award for a single player which was the Man of Steel award he was shortlisted along with Sam Tomkins who had a fantastic year, James Roby who had a solid year with Saints. With most people staying up late to find out the result various newspapers online stated that Rangi had won then the result came out and emerged that the winner of the 2011 Man of Steel was the Kiwi born Rangi Chase or was he a kiwi?
"Star Signing to announced" The hype was created and after starting one of the longest threads on Cas forum it came out that it was Rangi who'd signed a two year extension keeping him at the club until 2015. This was the best news the club have had in a long time. One of the greatest players to ever step foot in super league commits to Cas despite global interest. He then shocked the rugby league world again but this time this commitment wasn't welcomed as much as his other as he pledges his international future to England.
The new home and away shirt received fantastic response from the fans even fans of other clubs praising the shirts. hopefully we don't have to be embarrassed again to play in Halifax shirts for a game on SKY!!
With the new Era under Millward i must say I'm extremely excited, we seem to be run more professionally as a club (No dis-respect to Matterson) but Basil knows what needs to be done, he's already made significant changes behind the scenes and judging by our performance against Bradford on boxing day (which we won 28-18) our new signings seem to be relishing under Basil i thought it was a fantastic performance and i know i should take the result with a pinch of salt but personally i think we're in for a pretty decent season after we get everyone back from injury (Huby, Emmit, Walker, Ferres, Dixon and Millington) i think we should have a fantastic squad if we sort that defence out that's been our biggest problem for years we can be a force to reckoned with however i look forward to the 2013 season as Hudson and McGoldrick will be OOC at the end of 2012 and i can't see Ian wanting to keep them as they're up there in age. I honestly believe we picked the best person in Millward and think he's the man to take us forward, i see us improving massively with the new era i think younger players will shine even more not to mention our older players who will lead by example.
One to watch - Daryl Clark - expect a huge season from him.
Best signing - Josh Griffin - Looks set to prove hundreds of people wrong and step up his game.
Top try scorer - Nick Youngquest - If avoids injury will find the try line constantly.
Most improved - Richard Owen - Will have a cracking year at fullback.
Also expect veterans Danny Orr to step up as personally i think it'll be his last year playing after having a nice career and Ryan McGoldrick will step up his game to try and earn a new contract.
Spotlight Stealer - Who other than Rangi Chase.
Here is the squad numbers for the 2012 season.
Tigers squad numbers 2012:
1. Richard Owen 2. Nick Youngquest 3. Joe Arundel 4. Kirk Dixon 5. Josh Griffin 6. Rangi Chase
7. Danny Orr (c) 8. Jake Emmitt 9. Daryl Clark 10. Craig Huby 11. Brett Ferres 12. Jonathan Walker
13. Steve Snitch 14. Stuart Jones 15. Adam Milner 16. Ryan Hudson 17. Lee Mitchell 18. Cas Fans
19. Paul Jackson 20. Grant Millington 21. Oliver Holmes 22. Nathan Massey 23. Ryan McGoldrick
24. Steve Nash 25. Jordan Thompson 26. James Clare 27. John Davies.
I reckon the table will look like this at the end of 2012:
1.Warrington - Will improve even more from last year.
2. Leeds - As much as i hate to say it they'll be up there.
3.Wigan - Will have a very solid season. Expect big from Super Sam.
4. ST-Helens - Will miss James Graham at times however but youngsters will shine bright.
5. Huddersfield - Defence will be the key.
6. Catlans - Always seem to kick on at certain times but will drop off as usual.
7. Hull FC - Will have a good solid year but nothing to shout about.
8. Casleford Tigers - I see us just beating off others to gain final place.
9. Hull KR - Aussies will lead but won't be enough.
10. Salford - Never seem to be able shout about anything and that will be the case again.
11.Wakefield Wildcats - Complete new team will not have a good year.
12. Bradford - Been under-performing for a while now and that will carry on.
13.Widnes Vikings - . Won't gel.
14. London Bronco's - Will not have a good season. No fans. Not a good team. RFL will back them however.
Grand Final winners - Warrington or Saints, Leeds runners up.
Challenge Cup winners - Wigan. Warrington runners up.
Man of Steel - Sam Tomkins.
Finally Super League's back!!
I'd like to take this time to reflect on what personally has been the worst year of my life, it was meant to be the best year of my life and it's been far from. 2011 Has taught me to love like never before live everyday as if it's your last because you never now when your time is up. Early this year i lost the greatest man I've ever met in my life my Step-dad Brian Hughes. He suffered with Motor Neurone disease for years. It's a horrible horrible disease to have for those who didn't know him let me say this a man who was always smiling, always put others before himself a real family man he loved his family more than anything. For 2 years in a row i was travelling to the airport waiting about at one and flying on my birthday it should of been boring but he made a great day. You could be in the worse mood possible then along came Bri and instantly made you smile. Being how he was he never let anything drag him down. Always smiled no matter what, Bri was happiest when working or with his family and friends a jolly fella who'd do anything for anyone. He is an inspirational man. He loved his music and for a man in his 50's he loved dance music and he'd do the Bri dance. Please donate to any charity's involving this evil disease. As currently there is no cure only medication to help slow down the disease. I'll never forget you Bri you're missed so much by everybody and we're all doing our bit to be Jumping all over the world for you!
R.I.P Bri gone but NEVER EVER forgotten Love you so much! Sleep tight.
Thanks for reading.
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