2018 - Taking Stock

[SuffolkTiger]

The dust is settling on another season and the heart rate has returned to normal.

It's been a beautiful autumn day so I'm feeling "glass half full" about another season where we were right in the mix.

Counting some of my RL blessings (in no particular order)....

- We finished relatively comfortably in the top 4 - despite not always firing to our potential
- Being disappointed with third...!!!!
- Despite a heart breaking GF defeat and a shocker in the opener at Saints, we didn't crumble and hide
- Our support is still the envy of most clubs (if not all)
- The addition of Wattsy & PM
- We didn't moan about our injury list - especially missing last year's MOS for most of the season
- DP continues to be a class act
- We are not Widnes or Salford or... Leeds
- I still get a tingle when I see our massed ranks at away games
- The away win at Elland Road and walking back into the city with Leeds fans who told me they envied us and bought me beer
- Staying at the Wheldale hotel twice after a home game & opening the curtains the next morning and seeing the old girl winking at me (not a euphemism) from 20 yards away (and £500 worth of stray match balls in the guttering)
- Southerners at work seeing my Cas key ring and me not having to explain it
- The emergence of Jake Trueman
- Macca not being selected for international honours despite being the best hooker around and not sulking about it
- Macca stating his case as a future Australian national coach
- We are still on an upward curve and we have a big final fairy tale in us yet
- Wellsy joining the Cas gig
- The development of the Cas Women's team
- The hopes of a new ground are still burning bright
- Generally annoying the so called "bigger clubs" by refusing to "know our place and not eat at the top table"

Overall, the last 5 seasons have been fantastic and we are in the healthiest situation on and off the field for many a long year - maybe ever. There is more to come from us and I will enjoy my winter hibernation and come back full of beans in February for another 8 months of supporting the club I love.

[gateman]

Great post, it may be a bit upbeat for some, but for me you have got it bang on, thanks for that

[Lofthouse Tiger]

Spot on apart from the ground, by any stretch of the imagination the ground is nowhere near.

Some great points there ST and add to this we had our top scorer missing for almost half a season. There is plenty in there to be enthusiastic about for 2019. Great post :clap: :clap:

[usacas]

Great post, reflects my sentiments entirely. Choked me up reading it! Onwards and upwards Cas.

[Surreycasfan]

Haha! Love it Suffolk, have the same key ring and everyone knows who the Castleford Tigers are down here too!

[tigerfeat]

My son and his wife travelled up from Sussex for a game last year and stayed overnight in the boot room really enjoyed it , anybody travelling to a game either cas fan or away supporter who's got the time brilliant idea especially on a Friday night if it means avoiding the m62

[Tamworth Tiger]

The dust is settling on another season and the heart rate has returned to normal.

It's been a beautiful autumn day so I'm feeling "glass half full" about another season where we were right in the mix.

Counting some of my RL blessings (in no particular order)....

- We finished relatively comfortably in the top 4 - despite not always firing to our potential
- Being disappointed with third...!!!!
- Despite a heart breaking GF defeat and a shocker in the opener at Saints, we didn't crumble and hide
- Our support is still the envy of most clubs (if not all)
- The addition of Wattsy & PM
- We didn't moan about our injury list - especially missing last year's MOS for most of the season
- DP continues to be a class act
- We are not Widnes or Salford or... Leeds
- I still get a tingle when I see our massed ranks at away games
- The away win at Elland Road and walking back into the city with Leeds fans who told me they envied us and bought me beer
- Staying at the Wheldale hotel twice after a home game & opening the curtains the next morning and seeing the old girl winking at me (not a euphemism) from 20 yards away (and £500 worth of stray match balls in the guttering)
- Southerners at work seeing my Cas key ring and me not having to explain it
- The emergence of Jake Trueman
- Macca not being selected for international honours despite being the best hooker around and not sulking about it
- Macca stating his case as a future Australian national coach
- We are still on an upward curve and we have a big final fairy tale in us yet
- Wellsy joining the Cas gig
- The development of the Cas Women's team
- The hopes of a new ground are still burning bright
- Generally annoying the so called "bigger clubs" by refusing to "know our place and not eat at the top table"

Overall, the last 5 seasons have been fantastic and we are in the healthiest situation on and off the field for many a long year - maybe ever. There is more to come from us and I will enjoy my winter hibernation and come back full of beans in February for another 8 months of supporting the club I love.

Great post mate

[SWISS TONY!!]

Plus the emergence of Mitch Clark as a genuine 17 contender!

Most players nearly fit at the end of the season and with a good preseason all should be raring to go.

The club itself on the up.
The emergence of the woman's team as mentioned. Should be double headers with the first team
The start of the PDRL team. Was great to see!

Onwards and upwards

[mart0042]

Great post.

Most of the negative stuff was out of our hands or new learning situations.

We were everybody's second team until they realised we are now a leading team. I'm happy with that.