Castleford Tigers still have something to play for in last game of season says Luke Robinson
While making improvements for next year are high on everyone’s thoughts Castleford Tigers’ stand-in head coach Luke Robinson insists there is still plenty to play for in the final game of the 2026 Betfred Super League season this Friday.
The Tigers take on Robinson’s former club Huddersfield Giants in their last game at their Accu Stadium before a move to Dewsbury next year and know a win would ensure an 11th place finish and possible a top 10 place.
Defeat would see Cas finish below the Giants who were bottom of the table for much of the year before a turn round in the last two months.
And the wrong combination of results could still see the Tigers take the wooden spoon and leave them vulnerable in the grading system for places in the top division next year, although that could only happen if Hull somehow beat title-chasing Leeds Rhinos.
Robinson believes the players’ pride should see them want to finish the season well.
He said: “There’s always something to play for. The playing group need to put a performance out for themselves more than anything else, for their teammates.
"They are never going to play with this group of players ever again so they need to go out and create some good memories, not only for you and your teammates, but for the fans and the shirt.
“There’s going to be a lot of change within the squad and there’s obviously a lot of change within the coaching staff.
“I’m going to be one assistant coach, there’s another coming in. There’s going to be a new head coach so there’s going to be a lot of change within the club.
“There’s some good stuff happening off the field that Martin (Jepson) and other people are trying to do in the community. They seem like they’re ambitious in the signings they’ve made for next year, signing genuine bona fide winners that have played at the very highest level.
“I feel like it’s going to be exciting but this year is not over yet and we need to hope we finish with a spirited performance.”
After seeing the Tigers lose both games since he came in, Robinson believes lack of confidence has been the key.
He added: “When things don’t go our way we just don’t seem to be able to get a grasp of the game again.
"That’s an education thing and a confidence thing. We can try and get that in this week and fingers crossed we can finish on a high.”