CAS MAKE THE GRADE
Super League: 10th (P27 W7 D1 L19 F425 A735 PD-310 Pts15); Challenge Cup: Quarter-Finalists
By STEPHEN IBBETSON
THE HOPE
Castleford started the year at a low ebb, having narrowly avoided relegation in 2023. The priority was on grading points rather than league points as the playing budget was slashed to make the necessary off-field improvements.
THE REALITY
They got the grading points they needed - and a creditable number of league points too in the circumstances, even if it wasn't enough to save Craig Lingard's job.
Lingard was promoted to head coach ahead of the season, his first Super League role, and he lost 20 of his 29 games in charge.