No Zak Hardaker for Castleford in Super League Grand Final against Leeds
Castleford have left England international Zak Hardaker out of their squad for Saturday's Betfred Super League Grand Final following a breach of club rules.
Castleford are not divulging the background to the breach but clearly feel strongly enough to drop one of their most important players for the biggest game in their 91-year history.
The 25-year-old full-back has enjoyed a stunning return to form in his first season with the Tigers following his exit from Saturday's opponents Leeds.
A statement by the club said: "Zak Hardaker is unavailable for selection due to a breach of club rules. The club will make no further comment at this point as full attention is focused on Saturday's Grand Final."
Castleford are odds-on favourite at 1/2 with Sky Bet to win Saturday's Grand Final and Leeds are on offer at 7/4 to lift the trophy.
Castleford are set to switch leading tryscorer Greg Eden to full-back in place of the axed Hardaker, with Jy Hitchcox or Joel Monaghan taking over on the wing.
Coach Daryl Powell is also set to bring back second rower Oliver Holmes from injury, most likely in place of Gadwin Springer, who was an unused substitute in the semi-final against St Helens.
Leeds coach Brian McDermott has sprung a surprise by naming forward Stevie Ward in his 19-man squad.
Ward spent last Friday night in hospital before going into theatre on Saturday morning to have his shoulder re-located after dislocating it during the Rhinos' semi-final win over Hull.
McDermott said: "Stevie was in a great deal of pain at the start of the week and is still unlikely to feature at Old Trafford. However we will give him as long as possible to prove his fitness.
"They were unable to relocate his shoulder on Friday night because of the extent of the injury. Stevie was sidelined during the 2012 Grand Final and, of course, missed out in 2015 because of injury so we want to give him time to try and stake his claim for Saturday."
Jimmy Keinhorst is expected to take Ward's place while McDermott still has to announce whether Jack Walker or Ashton Golding will be at full-back.
Castleford squad: M Cook, G Eden, A Foster, L Gale, J Hitchcox, O Holmes, N Massey, M McMeeken, P McShane, G Millington, A Milner, G Minikin, J Moors, J Monaghan, B Roberts, J Sene-Lefao, M Shenton (capt), G Springer, J Webster.
Leeds squad: A Golding, T Briscoe, K Watkins, J Moon, R Hall, D McGuire (capt), R Burrow, M Parcell, A Cuthbertson, J Jones-Buchanan, C Ablett, S Ward, L Sutcliffe, B Singleton, M Garbutt, J Keinhorst, B Ferres, A Mullally, J Walker.
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