In January I would have said Hughes 100%, he was awesome for us last year. Admittedly he's struggled for form this year in a team struggling for form, but I think his performances have really been picking up lately I think he'd feature in Cas' first-choice 17 at least.

I think you mean who would I take from Cas over Gids and Patton? If so at present I would swap Gids for Gale in a heartbeat and I really rate Roberts too. Patton definitely isn't quite there yet and really needs to start putting his stamp on games on a more consistent basis. Still goes missing a bit too much for my liking, but he's promising for sure.

seriously you've posted this the week after Wayne Bennett picked Ratchford at fullback for England moving Hardaker to Centre.....

Genius wind up......

No you said the following nine players could get in the Cas side.

"Ratchford, Westerman, Cooper and Currie would 100% and you could make cases for a few more (Russell, Hughes, Gidley, Patton, Philbin)"

I questioned Hughes, Gidley and Patton and asked who would you drop from the Cas side to play them.

Ratchford wasn't even selected in the squad until Widdop had to drop out. Do try to keep up.

It's Castlefords style that makes them, not the players. Let's face it, Eden, Shenton, Webster, Roberts, Cook, Monaghan and even Hardaker to a point, were all made available by other clubs, some on the way to the scrap heap.

Millington, Sene-Lafeo, McMeeken, Minikin and Moors were excellent bits of recruitment, being squad players are Lower clubs.

When the signings were announced, was I upset we missed out on any, no. But on form would I like a few, yes.

The problem for Cas could come as it did with us in 2011, when the tight games come in poor conditions in September, we get picked off by a knock out rugby specialist such as Wigan. Still, they're the team to beat at the minute.

very much my thoughts at the moment.

There were poor conditions in Feb and March.

?

I was commenting that there were adverse conditions in Feb/March when Castleford won 6/6. So it does not necessarily follow that they will struggle in September.

The bit that you chose not to comment on, was the more important part of the bit I highlighted.

OK.

PS what is a "knockout rugby specialist"?