Castleford Tigers agree contract extensions with three youth prospects

CASTLEFORD TIGERS have agreed extended contracts with three of their youth prospects ahead of the 2021 Super League season.
Three Castleford Tigers youth players have signed extended deals with the club. Picture: Castleford Tigers.Three Castleford Tigers youth players have signed extended deals with the club. Picture: Castleford Tigers.
Three Castleford Tigers youth players have signed extended deals with the club. Picture: Castleford Tigers.

Cain Robb has agreed a two-year contract running through to 2022 while Brad Martin has extended his deal by a year along with Brad Graham.

All three of the players have represented England at youth level while both Graham and Martin made their Super League debuts for the Tigers during the 2020 season.

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Robb has yet to make his Castleford debut but was called into the 21-man squad for the club's final game of the season.

“It’s been good to get it all sorted and it’s a good opportunity to be training full time alongside all the players such as Macca (Paul McShane) and I have everyone helping me out when I ask questions to make me a better player," said Robb as he eyes a first appearance at senior level for the club this year.

“I’ve come through the Scholarship system under Danny Evans and all the Academy staff who have been phenomenal really with our development.

"I was a bit of an all-rounder and Danny turned me into a hooker and we went from there. Everyone here I can’t fault, they’ve been really good with me all the coaches.”

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Graham made his Super League debut in October against Hull FC and is aiming for more minutes in Super League in 2021.

The Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Castleford. Picture: SWpix.com.The Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Castleford. Picture: SWpix.com.
The Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Castleford. Picture: SWpix.com.

“I’m really happy with how things went, I didn’t expect the opportunity to make my debut but with how the season went, it was a chance that came about, and I grabbed it with both hands,” said the 19-year-old.

“I’m looking to get more game time, more experience under my belt, a full pre-season and see what the future holds.

“We’ve got good options with Shenny (Michael Shenton), Pete (Mata’utia) and we’ve signed Jordan Turner and he will add some real quality in the centres.

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"So, it’s just a challenge for someone like me who is new coming into it, getting to train with these boys is phenomenal. It pushes me to train harder and to want to be the best I can be and where I can also push them, I want to do that.”

Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell. Picture: SWpix.com.Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell. Picture: SWpix.com.
Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell. Picture: SWpix.com.

Martin also made his debut in October but against Hull's city rivals, Hull Kingston Rovers. He came through the Leeds Rhinos Academy and spent the entire 2020 season training with the club's first team.

The 19-year-old is keen to continue his development alongside some experienced players, such as Grant Millington, who has made more than 200 appearances for Castleford and holds the record for most appearances by an overseas player in the club's history.

Martin added: “I’m really proud to have signed for another year, it was a bit of an awkward year as we all know, but I was glad to make my debut and show what I can do and earn another year. I’m really looking forward to this season; it should be good.

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“I’d like to learn from all of them really, we’ve got a lot of good senior players here so if I can take a bit from each of them then hopefully it will make me more of a rounded player. With seniors such as Millo (Grant Millington), it’s been good to get that experience off him.”

Reflecting on what each of the three players brings to his side, head coach Daryl Powell said: "We’ve been super impressed with Cain, his commitment to being a professional rugby league player - I think is outstanding.

"He puts everything in there, he’s prepared to talk, he’s got some real instinct as a nine and is sharp out of dummy half.

"He just makes some little things happen and we think he’s got a decent future in the game and he is learning from a class nine in Paul McShane, but he’ll learn from anybody and I think it’s one of his biggest attributes.

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“Brad Graham has a good physical frame, a good kid and I think the same with all these young players’ parents, they have done an awesome job in helping them to mature as young men.

"The jury is out a little bit on whether Brad is a centre or a back-rower because he is probably going to grow to be capable of playing in the back row too, another player with a really great attitude.

"It was a tough outing against Hull last year, but I think he learned a lot about himself and what was required to play in Super League, there is no doubt he will work exceptionally hard to achieve his goals.

“Brad Martin is one of those players who players don’t like to train against, he’s a handful and pretty explosive and fearless to boot.

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"When he played last year, he showed up pretty well, really strong, he got knocked out, but he just needs to work on where to put his head when defending! But he has got potential and his explosiveness lends him to back or front row.

"We’ve got some good young players at the club at the moment and he is one of them.”