WE’LL HAVE LAST LAUGH
Cas reject comes in Andy for Mike
CATALANS’ Mike McMeeken reckons Castleford got it wrong firing boss Andy Last – but he isn’t complaining.
The England prop faces his winless former club at Stade Gilbert Brutus this evening bidding to condemn them to a fifth straight defeat.
Cas, hammered 50-8 by visitors Huddersfield last week, have not kicked on since McMeeken helped them finish top for the first time and reach a maiden Super League Grand Final in 2017.
Their decline has been sad to see but the towering forward reckons England assistant Last – now Steve McNamara’s No.2 in Perpignan – was the right man to revive them.
However, fearing relegation, Castleford sacked him last August just five months after taking over from Lee Radford.
Danny Ward was parachuted in to stave off the drop and ex-Batley boss Craig Lingard is now in the hot seat.
McMeeken, who left to move to France in 2021, said: “With Daryl Powell in charge we were a pretty consistent side. Although we only finished top once, we were in and around the top four.
“It was always going to be difficult when the likes of Michael Shenton and Grant Millington retired. There was always going to be a transition period.
“I don’t think the fans realised how difficult it would be. When you lose key players and a coach like that, it was always going to be tough.
“But when they had Lasty in charge, they let go someone who was very good for them. He just needed time to get the players he wanted in.
“Their loss, though, is our gain. We’ve gained a great coach and someone we value highly at our club.”
Catalans have lost only one of their opening four as they bid to reach Old Trafford for a third time in four years and finally lift a Super League title.
McMeeken, linked with Wakefield in 2025, said: “We’re in a good spot. We’re disappointed to lose at Leeds but to win three so far is good.”
McMeeken, 29, missed the 18-10 loss at Headingley a fortnight ago after suffering a back spasm pre-match.
He added: “It was a strange one. I’ve never had it before, so it was weird.
“I had a slight bit of soreness from the travel the week before. Being six foot five doesn’t help when you’re sat for four or five hours at a time. It felt fine in the warm-up until I did the tackle bags and then that aggravated it.
“Steve made the call to not risk it. It was frustrating but in the big picture it got me right for last week against Hull.
“And it’s made me more aware of what I need to do in my own time in terms of rehab and pre-hab.”