Nicked this idea from the Widnes site, who do you think have been the hardmen of Cas over the years.

Vowles and Fritz from my era.

Mal Reilly, Dennis Hartley, Kevin Ward, Ronnie Gibbs, Adrian Vowles & Kevin Beardsmore....a pack of hard lads



John Fifita and Dean Sampson subs

Beat me to almost all of them. Hard pressed to think of any more.

Lee Harland ? A bit on the dirty side, but he did like a dust up now and again.

Plus Bill Kirkbride

Brendan Tuuta

Players that i can recall with an hardman image are Tuuta, Andy Fisher and Brad Hepi, and basing it on a fight Grey Viane and Mcgoldrick have given good accounts of themselves, I always thought St John Ellis was an hardnut and im sure Rangi Chase could look after his self.

Beefy England. Seemed impervious to pain.

James Pickering?

gary connel , he could sort em out ,took no prisoners

Daz Price and Dave Plange 2 wingers to make ya shiver

Alan 'doddy' Dickinson good few years since

Mal Reilly ,Dennis Hartley,Brian lockwood,Keith Hepworth,Ronnie Gibbs,Martin Kettridge,Vowlesy,Clive Dickinson,Knocker Norton,Crooksy,Beefy,Brett Atkins to name just a few


Delboy66(aye of the tigers fanzine)

2 more to add to that list for the older supporters are both backs and as hard as nails Colin Battye and Jack (Cowboy) Austin.

I don't know what this lot are on above me, but any fule knows that Cas have never employed a 'hard man', nor will they. Gentle giants the lot of them, who play(ed) the game firmly but always fairly and who on occasion may have been called upon to give a good account of themselves when, due to circumstances beyond their control, things got a bit tasty on the playing field.

It's all the other teams who have the dirty b**tards, honest.

Just beat me to it!

Michael smith! Hardest man in the showers!

bam bam (barry higgins)

Some but not all of the above, definitely Dennis Hartley, Johnny Ward,Clive Dickinson Mal Reilly, Alan Dickinson, Ronnie Gibbs, Heppy
One not mentioned was Brian Hughes, not the biggest of props, but he never took a backward step and was definitely as hard as nails, God rest his soul.
Also does anyone remember the red haired prop who played for us in the 70's, I think his first name was John ....can't remember his surname though, quiet and unassuming off the field, but put him a Cas shirt on and bang!
Not too many real hard men in the modern game.

Would that be John Burke Cas signed him from Wakefield and if my memory is correct the first time he played agaist Wakefield at Wheldon Lane he knocked out one of the Rayne twins.

One name thats been missed is Tony Fisher

Well i must say in my 35 years as a Rovers fan and 30 years as an amateur player i have never in my life known anyone from Cas who was remotely hard

Apart from Jeff Hardy.

'mad' Jack Austin , later of Bramley fame,when he had calmed down a bit