Canes kick up a Storm with Cas!

The Hurricanes recently formed partnership with Super League’s Castleford Tigers bore fruit for Hurricanes’ Squad members Conner Gilbey and Ben Stead last Saturday as they took their opportunity to be part of the Tigers Squad for the pre -season friendly with deadly rivals Featherstone Rovers. Midlands’ Head Coach Richard Squires also spent time with the Tigers involved in the build-up, training and match day preparations alongside their Coaching / backroom staff.

Although a mainly inexperienced Tigers lost 26-10 to a strong Rovers line up in front of a partisan crowd at Post Office Road, Squires was more than happy with the contribution from his two players to the visitor’s performance. ‘Saturday was a great opportunity for Conner and Ben.  For Conner it was his first game fresh out of Reserves and his first game against Men. He held his own and showed some really nice touches against a very physical Featherstone team which is a great sign. With Ben it was a chance for some minutes early into the year and throw him in the deep end a little. He was around a group of young full -time players and it was important he took a leadership role and guided the team around the pitch which he did. He showed a lot of energy and was defensively superb.’

For young Second row forward Gilbey who has joined the Canes for 2023 from Hull it was a day to remember ‘Training with the Tigers was a very new for me as I’ve had little experience at a First Team level but I was happy to be throw in at the deep end and to test where I’m at in comparison.’ ‘The Game Day experience was all a bit surreal at first as I’ve never played in front of a crowd as loud and as passionate as both sets of supporters were. Playing (and training) alongside the Senior Cas Players was something else as well, especially the likes of Mahe Fonua having watched him as a youngster, lift Challenge Cups with Hull, my hometown team.’

As part of the collaboration there will be a dual registration opportunity between the two clubs not just developing talent at the Tigers by providing them the opportunity to extend their experience in a First Team environment at the Hurricanes, but also Midlands’ players being given the chance to benefit from working with the Tigers, a point not lost on experienced half back Stead. ‘It was an honour to be able to pull on the Cas jersey and get a good amount of game time against a very strong Featherstone side. Despite the result it was great to experience the pre match prep and game day set up within a professional, full-time environment. I’m grateful for the recently announced partnership between Castleford and Midlands Hurricanes which meant getting an opportunity to personally test myself at the highest level against Fev. It will undoubtably go from strength to strength and benefitting both clubs massively. In particularly for some of the younger, developing talents in both squads getting the opportunity to show what they can do either in League one or the Super League reserve competition respectively!’

With the Hurricanes deep in preparation for the 2023 League One Season Coach Squires reflected on his week with the Tigers and the learning potential for both himself, and his players as a result. ‘It was a change of environment and a chance to learn from some really experienced professionals who work within the First team at Castleford. I spent a few days in camp with the squad mid-week working on a few areas and picking up on some important pieces of information based around the culture, team and club as a whole which I will look to implement at the Midlands. I’m the youngest coach within the professional game and still have a lot to learn which is something I want to do so spending Saturday on the touchline with Andy Last who was the England Assistant coach at the world cup and Danny Wilson who plays a huge part in the youth development at Castleford was a great opportunity to ask questions and see the reasoning around a few things. It was also an opportunity to work with a number of youngsters who will work closely with us at the Hurricanes and to see the talent pool available.’

As well as Conner and Ben, Hurricanes fans might well have recognised a few more familiar faces in the Saturdays Tigers line up, Elliot Wallis, Brad Martin and Bailey Dawson all featuring in spells in the Midlands in 2022 and Squires sees more of the same as well building more links, especially around youth development that can be to the benefit of both clubs, on and off the field, as the partnership progresses. ‘The two clubs have really passionate people involved and want to achieve success’ he said ‘The partnership will allow my boys to be involved and train in a professional environment and have access to some things that other clubs cannot offer. Playing opportunities will be available through both clubs with us offering game time to a number of individuals from Castleford but also for our players to get game time and support the Reserves system which will be very beneficial. On and off the field opportunities to grow and succeed for both clubs are there and I’m very excited to see where things go’

With the Hurricanes due to begin their season with a pre-season friendly at Swinton Lions on Sunday 15th January final words to new boy Conner. ‘I’m settling in the Hurricanes very well; all the boys and the Coaching staff have been very welcoming and we’re all looking forward to getting on the field against the Lions and showing the supporters what we’re all about.’

 Next Game Swinton Lions v Midlands Hurricanes  (Pre Season Friendly) Heywood Road Manchester Sunday January 15th Kick off 2pm #COYC