Lee Radford discusses Castleford's injury woes and chances of mid-season signing

Lee Radford has suggested Castleford Tigers will not head into the recruitment market mid-season to source a new half-back. The Tigers face the prospect of playing someone out of position at Magic Weekend on Saturday against Leeds following a litany of injury and suspension issues.

The most notable is Jake Trueman, whose season and Castleford career is over after suffering an ACL injury in last week's victory over Huddersfield Giants. Ryan Hampshire has also picked up a similar season-ending knee injury, and fellow halves Gareth O'Brien and Callum McLelland remain on the sidelines.

There is some good news for Castleford, with Niall Evalds set to return to face Leeds this weekend. But he is unlikely to play half-back and while it leaves Radford with a dilemma in the short-term, he suggested the Tigers would not be joining the flurry of clubs dipping into the transfer market this week.

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"We'll fill the gap from within," Radford said when asked if they could look outside of the club for options. "There's some blokes in there that are capable of doing a job for us.

"Joe Westerman, Dan Smith, Greg Eden and Derrell Olpherts have all told me they've played there before so I'm spoiled for choice really. It's left us all over the shop though. Someone is going to have to play out of position but again, it's just another challenge we're facing and another challenge we're going to have to work hard to overcome."

Trueman has now played his last game for Castleford ahead of a move to Hull FC in 2023. Radford conceded he was 'gutted' for the Great Britain international but said he hoped Trueman's time at the club would be remembered fondly.

"He's