Jake Trueman gave Castleford significant reason to be cheerful with a thrilling performance at half-back in place of the injured Luke Gale. The 18-year-old scored a first-half hat-trick of tries to set his side on course for victory, although they had to withstand a strong comeback by Wigan during which a Castleford collapse many had predicted appeared to be happening.
With 20 minutes remaining, Wigan had reduced a 26-0 deficit to 10 points. They looked the stronger side and Castleford’s mettle was being seriously tested after they had previously looked supremely comfortable.
But Michael Shenton’s 70th‑minute try restored order and ultimately secured another Castleford win – their 25th in 29 league games – by 38-20. That may mean little for the Tigers, already assured of top spot for the play-offs, but psychologically it perhaps showed doubters that Castleford can indeed win tough as the semi-finals approach.
The loss of their leading half-back, Gale, following emergency appendix surgery in midweek, had been a blow and, though the player says he will be back, his participation in the play-offs is in some doubt. But Castleford responded to this setback remarkably.
Their coach, Daryl Powell, had said in advance of this game that he would use their two remaining league fixtures to assess his options at half-back should Gale be absent, and the emergence of Trueman, who was not even on the club’s books when pre-season began, may have made his job easier.
Trueman was picked up by Castleford only in the fallout of the liquidation of Bradford at the start of this year and in many ways he was a bonus buy for the Tigers. But his first league start could not have gone much better.
At Castleford they think he has all the potential to reach the top and his all-round display left Gale praising his stand-in’s impact. It was an excellent start to fulfilling the Super League leaders’ faith in him. Trueman earned perhaps even higher praise, too – a handshake and commendation from the former Great Britain captain Garry Schofield in the tunnel afterwards.
“You can see that he’s going to have this level of the game mapped out not too far down the track,” Powell said ofthe youngster. “I think it was one of the most controlled performances we had all year in that first half and it’s one of our best wins.”
But for Wigan, who aside from a 10-minute purple patch were poor here, things have taken a significant turn for the worse in their race to retain the title. A top-four finish is now out of their hands and, by the time they play Wakefield on Saturday, it could be beyond their reach barring an arithmetical miracle. “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am with that,” said their coach, Shaun Wane. “It was way off the standards of a team I coach.”
Castleford deservedly led 20-0 at half-time, when Trueman had stolen the show. He created the first try, for Greg Eden, before his own scoring feat– the third of his tries a wonderful effort which flat-footed Sam Tomkins as well as three other Wigan defenders.
Greg Minikin’s try shortly after half-time appeared to have ended Wigan’s challenge but they responded with a threatening comeback. They scored three tries in nine minutes, with Tom Davies, Tomkins and Thomas Leuluai going over – but the Tigers rode out the storm. Shenton’s try calmed their nerves before Minikin claimed his second on the full-time hooter.
Castleford’s bubble is certainly showing no signs of bursting with three weeks to go until the champions are crowned under the bright lights at Old Trafford.
Wigan S Tomkins; Davies, Gelling, Gildart, Burgess; Williams, Leuluai; Nuuausala, McIlorum, Clubb, Bateman, Farrell, J Tomkins. Interchange Sutton, Isa, Powell, Tautai.
Tries Davies, S Tomkins, Leuluai, Isa. Goals Williams 2.
Castleford Hardaker; Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden; McShane, Trueman; Millington, Milner, Foster, Holmes, McMeeken, Massey. Interchange Sene-Lefao, Cook, Springer, Holmes.
Tries Eden, Trueman 3, Minikin 2, Shenton. Goals McShane 5.
Referee B Thaler. Attendance 15,706.
