CASTLEFORD’s start to the year has gone from bad to worse, with captain Alex Mellor sideline for up to two months with a broken leg.
Explaining the the back rower’s absence from from the squad to play Huddersfield tomorrow night, coach Ryan Carr said: “He picked up a broken leg in Toulouse.
“It’s a weight-bearing bone unfortunately so he’ll be on the sideline for an extended period until we can get that healed.
“…the bone just under his knee there, on the outside. It doesn’t require surgery, which is a positive, but it is a weight-bearing bone so we’re going to have to take our time ’til it heals which is unfortunate for him.”
The Tigers have already lost their marquee signing Blake Taaffe for the season with a knee injury.
Carr said Mellor would be out for “around eight weeks”.
“Being a bone, you can’t do much about it – you’ve just got to wait ’til it heals.
“Taaffey in round one, now Mels in round two – there’s a couple of key blokes to our roster – both their football ability but also their leadership and the confidence they bring to the group.
“It is a blow but at the same time it’s a next-man-up mentality and we’ve got to make sure whoever comes in there does the job.”
Joe Stimson will take over as captain.