This was a crucial win for Castleford, who extended their lead at the top of Super League and showed they have the squad depth to be genuine title contenders this season.
While their absentee list was not necessarily extensive here, Castleford were shorn of Luke Gale, Zak Hardaker and Mike McMeeken as the England trio prepare for the Test against Samoa in Sydney.
Gale’s regular half-back partner, Ben Roberts, was also missing from this match – and when the last remaining senior half, Rangi Chase, withdrew with an injury midway through the game here, Castleford’s hopes of success against Huddersfield looked remote.
However, endeavour, effort and a moment of madness from the Huddersfield half-back Danny Brough ultimately helped the Tigers to extend their lead at the top. “It’s right up there for me, this victory,” Daryl Powell, the Castleford coach, said.
Huddersfield had their own injury problems but they were ultimately left to rue a game-changing moment from Brough, who was sent to the sin-bin with seven minutes remaining for a dangerous tackle which handed the Tigers the initiative in a game which looked like it was slipping away from them.
“Generally in footy I think you get what you deserve, but we didn’t get what we deserved tonight,” the Huddersfield coach, Rick Stone, said afterwards.
Huddersfield led 18-12 at the break – and even with Chase withdrawing with a neck problem they levelled through a Greg Eden try before a final quarter laden with talking points. Brough’s drop goal made it 19-18, Paul McShane responded with a penalty to put Castleford ahead before Brough replied with two points of his own.
Jake Webster was then sent to the sin‑bin for a professional foul on Sebastine Ikahihifo, before Brough’s yellow card made it 12-a-side. Before his exit, his game-management had looked enough to steer Huddersfield to a priceless win; without him, Castleford made them pay via Jesse Sene-Lefao’s late try.
Huddersfield Mamo; Ormsby, Mellor, Murphy, Macintosh; Brough, Wood; Ikahihifo, Leeming, Wakeman, Roberts, Ferguson, Hinchcliffe. Interchange O’Brien, Rapira, Smith, Clough.
Tries Mamo 3. Goals Brough 4. Drop goal Brough.
Castleford Eden; Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Monaghan; Chase, McShane; Lynch, Milner, Millington, Sene-Lefao, Foster, Massey. Interchange Holmes, Moors, Cook, Springer.
Tries Monaghan, Minikin, Eden, Sene-Lefao. Goals McShane 5.
Referee B Thaler. Attendance 5,566.
