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Five Tigers players return after operations

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Published Date: 12 November 2009
DESPITE five players having undergone operations in the close season, Castleford Tigers are expecting virtually a full turnout when the squad returns to training at The Jungle on Monday.
All the players will report for duty, except Michael Shenton, whose pre-season preparations have been put on hold until December after his involvement with the England team in the Four Nations tournament, and prop forward Mitchell Sargent, who is back home in Australia where his partner is expecting a baby.
Tigers coach Terry Matterson is putting the finishing touches to his pre-season plans and will keep a close check on the fitness of the five first team stars who have had hospital treatment since the end of the last campaign.
Full-back Richard Owen was the latest under the knife to sort out an ankle injury that was troubling him towards to end of last term while forwards Joe Westerman (shoulder) and Stuart Jones (groin) have undergone operations in recent weeks.
Winger Kirk Dixon had a breathing problem sorted out and scrum-half Brent Sherwin was booked into hospital within a week of last season ending in a bid to clear up a foot injury that caused him to miss almost half of last season.
Australian Sherwin is not expected to be fit in time for the Boxing Day clash with Bradford Bulls at The Jungle, but if everything goes to plan he should be fit for the start of the next Super League season in February.
"Everyone's had their operations that needed to and they were all successful," explained Matterson.
"We are pleased that they've all gone well and it's into their rehab programmes now. There are different time spans for their recovery, but they will all be in on the 16th. Some of them have started now with their rehab."
Matterson said that a group of players had already started their pre-season work last week as they look to build up their strength in particular.
He added: "We've got a group in, about a dozen who have started, including some of the young guys that are new to the squad - the likes of John Davies and Jordan Thompson.
"It's a chance for them to get used to the heavier weights and there's also some of the guys we feel need to start a little bit early because they need a little bit extra to the other guys.
"Obviously the guys know each other well this year with so few changes to the squad and even the two new guys know most of the team. So it's not a case of having a big group of newcomers who we need to gel together.
"But we want to be ready from the off and build upon the progress that we made last season, so the break hasn't been too long."
Jordan Thompson has agreed a new extended contract which will keep him at the Jungle until the 2011 season.
The former Normanton Knights junior made his first team debut last season and was the first winner of the Colin Butterfield Shield for the Tigers rookie of the year.
He said: "I am very pleased to have signed a new contract. I'm really enjoying it at the club, they are making progress and I want progress in the game myself, so this is a good next step for me."
CBR Engineering have joined the growing band of Tigers apparel sponsors after agreeing to be the club's sock sponsors for 2010.

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  • Last Updated: 12 November 2009 7:48 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Pontefract & Castleford
 
 

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