Tigers put in a ‘complete performance’ against Toulouse to record second league win of 2022

Castleford Tigers put in one of their most complete performances of the Betfred Super League season so far as they came away with a 32-6 win over the competition’s newcomers Toulouse Olympique at the ’70s themed Jungle.

The Tigers had struggled for consistency in Super League heading into Friday’s fixture with their only win of 2022 coming against Hull FC at the end of February but a Challenge Cup win over Leeds Rhinos last weekend

Toulouse meanwhile headed into the fixture on the back of a 26-24 win over a threepeat St Helens side, however handling mistakes and defensive frailties saw them fall to defeat in West Yorkshire.

Tries from Greg Eden, Niall Evalds, Adam Milner, Jake Mam, and Liam Watts as well as a perfect boot from Gareth O’Brien saw Castleford pick up the two points.

After a war of attrition in the opening thirteen minutes, it was the hosts who ultimately took the lead.

Quick hands from hooker Paul McShane and centre Jordan Turner found winger Eden who managed to stroll past the Toulouse defense with ease with halfback O’Brien converting from the side-line.

Toulouse showed glimmers of positive response but made multiple handling errors near the goal-line and ultimately this led to the Tigers grabbing a second try at the 23-minute mark with Eden turning from try scorer to try provider producing a kick that fullback Evalds latched on to.

O’Brien converted his second of the night to make it 12-0.

A penalty kick from O’Brien extended Lee Radford’s side’s lead to 14-0 before Milner found his way past the French side’s defence at the 30-minute mark following a break by in form second-rower Kenny Edwards.

The Tigers went into the sheds at halftime with a positive mindset after a professional first-half performance with Toulouse needing to cut out the errors they had made and tighten up their defensive line if they were to pick up the two points themselves.

Jake Mamo made sure that the Tiger’s momentum stayed with them in the second half as a break from Liam Watts put Radford’s side in the perfect position to play expansive rugby league with the ball finding the Australian centre who touched down on the 50th-minute mark. O’Brien continued his 100% record with the boot to make it 26-0.

Castleford continued to create sustained pressure on Toulouse forcing errors from Sylvian Houles’s side with their defence starting to become tired.

Watts found the try line to cap off a man of the match performance after making a solo line break from twenty metres out, this was the Tiger’s final score of the game with Toulouse managing to stop themselves from being nilled for the first time in 2022 with Tony Gigot going over with seconds left.



Tigers Lineup: Niall Evalds, Bureta Faraimo, Jame Mamo, Jordan Turner, Greg Eden, Jake Trueman, Gareth O’Brien, George Griffin, Paul McShane, Nathan Massey, Kenny Edwards, George Lawler, Joe Westerman.

INTERCHANGES: Liam Watts, Adam Milner, Mahe Fonua, Suaia Matagi.

Tries: Eden, Evalds, Milner, Mamo, Watts

Goals: O’Brien 6/6

Toulouse Lineup: Oliver Ashall-Bott, Paul Marcon, Guy Armitage, Chris Hankinson, Matty Russell, Tony Gigot, Lucas Albert, Romain Navarrete, Anthony Marion, Dominique Peyroux, Andrew Dixon, Joseph Paulo.

INTERCHANGES: Eloi Pelissier, Maxime Peuch, Mitch Garbutt, James Cunningham.

Tries: Gigot

Goals: Hankinson

Prost Rugby League MOTM: Liam Watts

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