Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors Predictions: A bright start expected for the champions on the road

The reigning Betfred Super League champions, Wigan Warriors, are strongly favored to defend their title at Old Trafford in October. They embark on their 2024 campaign with a Saturday away fixture against Castleford Tigers, a team that is anticipated to face challenges in the competition.

Last season proved to be a challenging one for Castleford Tigers, as they struggled significantly and narrowly avoided relegation. Finishing the regular season in the 11th position out of 12 teams with a total of 12 points from 27 weekends, they ended just four points ahead of the relegated Wakefield. Despite falling short of the playoffs, Castleford Tigers are optimistic about a more positive outcome in the upcoming season, starting with a formidable challenge against the strong Wigan Warriors.

However, Castleford Tigers have had to strengthen their squad on a limited budget, and their new head coach, Craig Lingard, is well aware of the tough year ahead, beginning in round one. Unfortunately for Castleford Tigers, they have faced a setback on the eve of the new season, with their influential hooker, Paul McShane, ruled out for approximately six weeks due to a hamstring injury. Adding to their challenges, experienced player Alex Mellor is also unavailable, along with Rowan Milnes, while Sylvester Namo is in recovery from an ACL injury.

After clinching the championship in the previous Betfred Super League season, Wigan Warriors are entering the upcoming campaign with a high level of optimism. Finishing the regular season with 40 points, tying with Catalans Dragons and St Helens in second and third place, Wigan Warriors navigated through the playoffs to secure the finals victory against Catalans Dragons, following a triumph over Hull KR in the semifinals.

As the 2024 season kicks off, a glance at Wigan's squad list reveals a formidable lineup, arguably stronger than the previous season. While Morgan Smithies has moved to the NRL, the Warriors have bolstered their squad with impressive signings, including the dynamic hooker Kruise Leeming, England prop Luke Thompson from Canterbury Bulldogs, and the Catalans Dragons duo Tiaki Chan and Adam Keighran. Notably, Wigan faces some setbacks with winter signing Sam Walters from Leeds nursing a collarbone injury expected to sideline him for three months. Similarly, Junior Nsemba is out for a similar duration, and young forward Sam Eseh is unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

While I wish I could offer some optimism for Castleford fans in this matchup, the reality seems challenging. In the two encounters between these teams last season, Wigan Warriors dominated, scoring 84 points compared to Castleford's mere six. The current Wigan Warriors squad appears stronger and more robust, benefitting from an additional year under the guidance of head coach Matt Peet, who, despite his Grand Final success, continues to develop in his role.

For Castleford Tigers to stay competitive, they would likely need an exceptional 80-minute performance from their captain, Joe Westerman. However, the prevailing sentiment suggests that the smart money is on a comfortable away win for Wigan Warriors. The expectation is that Wigan will secure a victory with a substantial point margin, making the total number of points likely to be high at full time.