POWELL HAS A FIVE-STAR POP

CASTLEFORD coach Daryl Powell has fired another broadside at the RFL over controversial double weekends – by resting FIVE key men for the Super League leaders clash with St Helens tomorrow.

Luke Gale, Zak Hardaker, Mike McMeeken, Grant Millington, and Michael Shenton will sit out the match, while Matt Cook and Adam Milner are injured. It means up to four players could make their Tigers debuts, with Powell’s anger fuelled by the fact Saints could rearrange their Monday game with Huddersfield to give them an extended break.

Powell (left) said: “The RFL are not going to look after the players so I’m going to do it – there’ll be a lot of changes to our team. We’re hardly halfway through the year and we’ve had two Friday-Monday turnarounds.

“We were told we’ve got a six-day turnaround and that it shouldn’t be an issue but to have that after we play Friday and then Monday just is not enough.

“I am looking forward to this game hugely to see how our squad deals with what will be a highly-motivated St Helens team.” Hull FC could hand a debut to centre Connor Bower against Wigan today with Josh Griffin and Liam Watts suspended and Mahe Fonua, Marc Sneyd, Scott Taylor and Gareth Ellis injured.

Liam Forsyth, Joel Tomkins and Joe Burgess return for Wigan, who have not won in five Super League games.