No Bull, Alex is now a Cas contender

NEW TIGER IS ROARING TO THE TITLE

ALEX FOSTER has gone from not knowing where his next pay packet was coming from to title contender in a matter of months.

Back-rower Foster was caught up in the financial meltdown at Bradford, when they were plunged into administration just weeks after he joined his boyhood club in November.

The 23-year-old stuck it out with the Bulls for three months – despite not getting paid once – before securing a trial at Castleford.

Even then, a permanent deal was far from guaranteed, with the Leeds Rhinos product still recovering from a groin injury.

But Foster did enough to earn a Tigers contract until the end of the season – and such has been his impact that it was quickly extended for a further two years.

He is becoming a key figure in runaway leaders Castleford’s bid to land a first Super League title, which continues with tonight’s Super 8s opener against St Helens.

Foster said: “Signing for Bradford was a dream come true for me because it was the team I supported as a young lad and there was a lot of positivity at the time.

“But we soon heard about administration and it quickly went downhill from there.

“It was very difficult – a lot of lads had mortgages and children to feed and some of them did part-time labouring just to get some money in.

“I was lucky that I had a good support network around me.

“I was pretty hopeful that Bradford could come out of the other side and I could still play for the club.

“But, after liquidation, that wasn’t possible and I started looking at other options. I have to credit my agent Craig Harrison, who was brilliant and gave me the belief I could not only play professionally, but at the top level.

“When he found out Cas were looking for a backrower and could get me a trial, it was fantastic.

“And I feel my performances have been enough to keep me in the team.

“I couldn’t have imagined my career would go from what it was at Bradford to how it is now at Cas.”

The Tigers have never finished first in the top division, but they look certainties to make history and are 10 points clear, ahead of tonight’s clash.

Foster added: “No one’s getting carried away and we’ve not won anything yet.

“St Helens have looked really good in their last few performances – and they will be a very dangerous animal.”