THIS CAS TO BE MY YEAR SAYS EVALDS
NIALL EVALDS knows this year will have to be something special to top his 2021.
The Castleford fullback earned his first England cap, won the Lance Todd Trophy at Wembley, got married to Sophie and celebrated the arrival of his first son, August.
Now the 28-year-old has two targets as the Tigers usher in a new era under incoming coach Lee Radford.
“The World Cup at the end of the year will be a big aim for a lot of people,” Evalds explained. “It is for myself although there is a lot of competition at full-back – there’s the Man of Steel Sam Tomkins (right) there, Zak Hardaker, Jake Connor, some outstanding players.
“It’s definitely something to aim for but I have to take care of things at Cas first.
“At Cas we want to win a trophy this year and be up there.
“The aim week-byweek is to make sure the performances are there for the fans, and we want to take the next step and win something.
“Cas have made it to finals and big games before and just missed out and we want to take that next jump, although it will be tough with Saints and Warrington looking strong.
“But we’re confident in ourselves that we can have a big year.”
Evalds quickly became a key figure at the Tigers after switching from Salford on an initial one-year deal that has since been extended until at least the end of 2023.
There were high points in Daryl Powell’s last season as coach and although the campaign finished in disappointing circumstances, better was to come for Evalds.
“We got to a Challenge Cup final last year, although unfortunately we didn’t win,” he added.
“But it was a big day for all the boys involved. “Then I played for England, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
“The injury to Sam Tomkins was unfortunate but it gave me an opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted to do.
“It was a proud moment for me and my family to pull on the England jersey.
“We had our little boy and then got married in December so those were two massive highlights off the pitch.
“It was a big year. We haven’t had much sleep at times but amazing for me and my family.
“Now I can’t wait for a new era at Cas, it’s an exciting time. Powelly did an amazing job and it was great to work with him for a year, I learnt a lot. This pre-season has been different for all of us but there’s a real positive vibe around the place.”
1971: Former world heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston was found dead in a Las Vegas apartment. 1971: Australia and England met in the first one-day cricket international in Melbourne.
2000: Pele was voted the best player of the 20th century, ahead of Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer, in a poll by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
2003: Canada’s John Part ended the eight-year unbeaten run of Phil Taylor with victory in the PDC World Championship final at Purfleet. 2007: England lost the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney by 10 wickets to seal a 5-0 series win for the hosts, the first Ashes whitewash in 86 years. 2011: England batsman Paul Collingwood announced his retirement from Test cricket.
2015: Temba Bavuma became the first black African to score a Test century for South Africa after making 102 not out against England on day four of the second Test in Cape Town.
2021: Former Manchester City and England star Colin Bell died aged 74.
EVERTON were hit by disciplinary problems as it was revealed teenager Francis Jeffers spent the new year locked in a cell following a boozy brawl, while fellow youngsters Michael Ball and Richard Dunne failed to turn up for training on New Year’s Day after drinking heavily at a team-mate’s fancy dress party.