Caton-Brown at centre and Tupou on the wing utterly baffled me and I would have to say, in my view, contributed significantly to the defeat. Jake Webster has brushed off stronger men than Mason before tonight but I'm afraid MCB was at fault for a number of those tries, especially 2 of the 1st half ones. I am not blaming him; he's not a centre. He's a damn good winger. Tupou is a damn good centre and also good defensively and the obvious choice for me. I am not saying we would have won but this decision alone probably cost us 18 points. I would be interested to hear Chester and Kear's reason for this

I and many spectators around me were saying exactly the same thing charlie. Totally baffling decision; as was the decision not to go for goal in the first half. We would have got the ball back and the whole scenario would have changed. Instead they got two tries in quick succession straight after. But the Caton-Brown/Tupou tactic was a complete flop and the positions reversed in the second half. It's been successful all the season. Why change for such an important game?

He got murdered by Hardaker and Webster tonight. It was a weird call. The team did well for 50 minutes again but in lots of games we always seem to have a 30 minute period where, when we are off it, the opposition post plenty of points.

TBf Miller had a bloody nightmare in defense and attack

Yes, that selection baffled me too, and my two kids who were there too.

Worrying when an 11 year old picks up that selection error aa well.

MCB was originally a centre but agree his best position is on the wing.

I imagine the reason Tupou remained out on the wing from last week is that he is our strongest ball carrier by some distance so on returning kicks he puts on the front foot for the set. His best position is probably on the wing too.

I can understand the change but given where we are in the season, I would change it back.

It was a bad call & cost us big time. Webster has been one of the best signings that Powell has made over there & I bet they were in dream land when they saw our line up!

I was baffled when I saw the way thatm edge lined up.

Yes MCB defence not good enough for centre but also some of the half chances Toupou had near the line MCB might have had the extra pace and athleticism to finish off.

It's yesterday's news now but have to agree an odd choice.

Watching was frustrating. You could see Miller and MCB being overwhelmed and after the first 2 tries it did seem to be the bleeding obvious to change.
Miller was off colour, Finn off with the boot, and Jowitt's kick dead on the last play, kick out on the full and dropped bomb didn't help, however, the lad cannot possibly be up to speed with a game here and there.
We were beaten by the best team in the league but our selection choices weren't the best on reflection.
Hopefully Tyler Randal can add a spark.

I do not get this thread are some saying that if MCB had been on the wing the result may have been different ? I think Webster or cas would have scored whichever position we had our players out on the pitch.

Great defense in the middle, right side looked good with one exception when BJB jumped out and let Eden have a free run in, that said if he had intercepted and gone the length of the field I would not have been complaining. As everyone else is saying our left side looked vulnerable against what is the best attack in the league, MCB in the was not great. Miller was not at his best. All that been said I thought our attitude was first class, team spirit looks great , we gave it 100 % no complaints on that score. What a great season. Two weeks off, get some bodies back and give it our best for the last few games.

I wrote it yesterday

Maybe so, but Tupou vs Webster is clearly a better contest than MCB vs Webster. Not criticising Mason, we know his game and nobody ever said defence was his strongest point.

Maybe the contest wasn't so much MCB v Webster. Maybe it was Chester v Powell?

I think this is pretty much spot on.

Agree!! Look where we are....four games to go and we are still in with a shout of getting to the GF!!

He isn't a natural centre and therefore defensively will find it more difficult than someone who plays the position week in week out. Cas exploited this and a number of their tries came down that side - Worst one been the Hardaker break which MCB should have dealt with.

I know he scored 4 times however after 65mins it was Webster's first ever hat-trick for Castleford! Hes not had one since playing for Melbourne 11 years ago. Don't get me wrong hes a strong player but watching the game back MCB's defensive play is poor!

Pointless swap when they've been opposite way round all previous games. Mcb very exposed defence poor, but bt being there wouldn't have changed the outcome.

What other option where there? No Arundel, Gibson gone.
Someone on sky said that Hadley had played in the centre??? but he was covering hooker for Wood.
So who else can cover a centre position???

Tupou.

I think the point people are trying to make is why swap them around. Have Tupou at centre MCB on the wing.

Not sure it would have saved the game but I have to agree with most posters, it was odd.

I'm optimistic for the future, at least on the field.

If you look at where we were in 2015 we've made huge strides.

In some ways we are in a similar position to where Cas were after 18 month of Powell taking over - other than they got a trip to Wembley if I recall.

We also have a young team in some key positions. I think we have more players for whom the best is yet to come.

Fifita, England, Ashurst, Hirst, Miller, Arona, Arundal, Johnstone, Lyne, MCB, Jowitt, Tupou, Batchelor all have yet to peak IMHO.

Randall, who knows, but if he is good then bingo.

Only Kirmond, Huby,Finn and Wood are probably at their peak.

Shame we can't (probably)keep Hadley, you could build a team around that lad.

I do think we need a special signing though. Roberts adds so much class to Castleford. I love Finn and Miller is a live wire but a real magic man like a Solomona, now that would be something.

Nobody's saying the result would have been different westgate, just that it seemed strange (to say the least) to change a successful lineup at this stage in the season and for such an important game.