Having ruled the roost over Hull FC last year, Castleford Tigers coach Lee Radford will be out to extend his 100 per cent record over his former club when his side head to the MKM Stadium in round one of Betfred Super League XXVIII on Sunday.
Radford was controversially sacked by FC chairman Adam Pearson moments after a home defeat to Warrington Wolves in 2020, with Pearson infamously announcing immediately afterwards on live TV that Radford's six-and-a-half years in charge were over.
Here's everything you need to know about Sunday's clash as the Cas head coach looks to get one over his old side.
Hull FC v Castleford Tigers
Where: MKM Stadium, Hull.
When: 3.00pm (GMT)
Hull FC’s last five: Lost 4-36 v Hull KR (03/09/22), Won 38-12 v Toulouse (28/08/22), Lost 18-28 @ Salford (25/08/22), Lost 18-26 v Wakefield (19/08/22), Lost 6-60 v St Helens (14/08/22)
Castleford's last five: Lost 8-14 @ Leeds (03/09/22), Lost 10-50 v Salford (29/08/22), Won 19-18 @ Warrington (25/08/22), Lost 10-36 @ Huddersfield (18/08/22), Won 18-8 v Catalans (12/08/22)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull FC 4/6, Castleford 13/10, draw 18/1
Handicap betting (Castleford +3.5): Hull FC 5/6, Castleford 10/11
Milestones:
If Brad Dwyer makes his Hull FC debut, it will be his 250th career appearances after 121 with Leeds Rhinos, three for Featherstone Rovers, 88 at Warrington Wolves, 12 with London Broncos, 19 for Swinton Lions and six at Huddersfield Giants.
Carlos Tuimavave will be making his 150th appearance for Hull FC if he is used against Castleford. He made his debut for the Black and Whites in February 2016.
Previous meetings:
Round 20, 2022: Hull FC 18, Castleford Tigers 46
Round 4, 2022: Castleford Tigers 33, Hull FC 26
Round 21, 2021: Hull FC 12, Castleford Tigers 23
Round 9, 2021: Castleford Tigers 12, Hull FC 30
Round 9, 2020: Hull FC 48, Castleford Tigers 6
Total Super League meetings: 54 (Hull FC 27, Castleford 24, 3 draws)
All eyes will be on Tony Smith as he takes charge of Hull FC for the first time just seven months on from being sacked by cross-city rivals Hull KR. The experienced coach will be expected to get a better tune out of the Airlie Birds than they managed under his predecessor Brett Hodgson over the past couple of years, with the hammering at home to 16-man Rovers in the local derby which closed last season summing up their malaise.
Smith has added the experienced Brad Dwyer and Liam Sutcliffe to his ranks, along with Aussie full-back Tex Hoy and the injured Jake Trueman, who misses the start of the campaign as he recovers from ACL surgery.
Lee Radford is looking forward to seeing the combination between new half-back pairing Jacob Miller and Gareth Widdop in full effect as the Tigers face up to a year without Danny Richardson. Albert Vete and Jack Broadbent are among Castleford's other additions ahead of a season in which they'll be keen to make up for their play-off near-miss of 12 months ago.
Sportsman stat: Hull FC have won their last three Round 1 fixtures since a dramatic 18-16 loss to neighbours Hull Kingston Rovers in the final seconds of their 2019 opener.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
