Castleford Tigers went into their rearranged fixture with Hull KR on the back of a seriously disappointing 18-40 home defeat against leaders St Helens. But, with Greg Eden returning from a hamstring injury to play fullback, meaning Michael Shenton reverted back to his original centre position, the Tigers ran out easy 14-42 winners over the Robins.
Junior Moors, Greg Minikin and Ben Roberts were all absent because of injury with Joe Wardle and Kieran Gill drafted in. Castleford's first try came in the sixth minute and from that point on, they were on top and dominated the home side in every respect.
Surely, those involved did enough to warrant a place against Warrington this Friday?
Complacency
Some players at Castleford have almost been guaranteed a starting spot since the start of the season, but head coach Daryl Powell freshened things up against Hull KR. Greg Minikin was left out - though it was said because of injury - after three costly errors against St Helens when a more flamboyant winger would have registered a hat-trick. Youngster Kieran Gill played on the right wing instead and touched down twice - both in impressive fashion - to do him no harm in keeping his place in the team and keeping Minikin out.
Joe Wardle - returning from injury - took a starting place from second-rower Oliver Holmes and performed superbly, whilst the underrated Matt Cook took over from Jesse Sene-Lefao as starting prop.
With Jake Webster on the sidelines for the indefinite future, Alex Foster was once more given the right centre duty.
In years gone by, the absence of former New Zealand international Webster would have hit Castleford hard, but Foster has shown his class so far this season, playing as a second-rower, winger, centre and even a prop at times.
A superb tackler and devastating line runner, the Leeds academy product demonstrated just how much of a brilliant player he is turning into for the Tigers with yet another try and another solid performance.
Has Castleford's fullback issue now gone?
But, the standout performer was Greg Eden. Finally returning from a recurring hamstring injury that has kept him out for most of 2018, Eden produced a wonderful display at fullback, having a hand in everything the Tigers did well and scoring a well-taken try early in the first half.
It seems that fullbacks are like buses for Castleford - none come along then two come at once. The signing of Quentin Laulu-Togaga'e was supposed to cover the Tigers at No.1, but with Eden coping with everything Hull KR chucked at him, perhaps Powell should keep QLT waiting in the wings.
Castleford have not had a suitable fullback all season and, despite wing being his best and now preferred position, Greg Eden could well be the stop-gap that the Tigers need at the back until 2019. However, QLT is an experienced and influential fullback and Eden is a superb winger which could see the Tigers line up differently once more aacross the backline on Friday. But, this would mean pushing Gill from the wing spot and after a calm and assured performance the rangy winger deserves to keep his place.
The key in sport is not to change a winning formula - the Tigers now have that in place and any disruption could prove costly away at third-placed Warrington. Though Hull KR were below par to say the least, the Castleford side looked as they had wound the clock back to last season even if first-choice half-backs Luke Gale and Ben Roberts were still out. That should be enough evidence to convince Powell to keep the same team for this week.
