Hi, stolen this idea from the WTW page but thought it would be good to name a best XIII of the players you've seen with your own eyes in Castleford colours. I'd go with (started watching Cas in the late 80s):

1 - Graham Steadman
2 - St. John Ellis
3 - Richard Blackmore
4 - Michael Eager
5 - Darren Rogers
6 - Rangi Chase
7 - Mike Ford
8 - Lee Crooks
9 - Aaron Raper
10 - Danny Nutley
11 - Dale Fritz
12 - Tawera Nikau
13 - Adrian Vowles

Put Tawera Nikau in the second row so I could fit Vowles in at loose. Just looking at this team gives me goose bumps!!!

1. Steadman
2. Howe
3. Blackmore
4. Joyner
5. St John Ellis
6. Hardisty
7. Hepworth
8. K. Ward
9. K.Beardmore
10 Crooks
11.W.Bryant
12.Nikau
13.Reilly
Subs: J.Ward,A.Vowles, R.Chase,Norton/C.Dickinson

I am not a great historian, but there are a few people I think I would swap:
Not sure about hooker - in my own memory I prefer Bartrim - Others will differ who have more life experience!
Loose, I never saw Mr Reilly personally, but I am told he was something special.
My only other change would be Kevin Ward for Lee Crooks.

Lots of people will have differing views, but your specification of "with your own eyes" makes it interesting!!!

1 Graham Steadman
2 St John Ellis
3 John Sheridan
4 Richard Blackmore
5 Darren Rodgers
6 Alan Hardisty
7 Keith Hepworth
8 Lee Crookes
9 Roger Millward (though wasn't a hooker, deserves a place!)
10 Mick Redfearn
11 Tawera Nikau
12 Bill Kirkbride
13 Mal Reilly

I am not having Big Ern in an all time list.

NEVER - EVER - EVER - if you are not in the immidiate Rodgers family, then you are borderline to be sectioned Dave!

There will be a few who will disagree with me...my viewing goes back to 1981 so....

G Steadman
T Richardson
R Blackmore
M Eager
St John Ellis
J Joyner
M Ford
K Ward
K Beardsmore
D Sampson
L Crooks
R Gibbs
T Nikau

1. Steadman
2. Plange
3. Joyner
4. Blackmore
5. St John Ellis

6. Hardisty
7. Hepworth

8. Hartley
9. K. Beardmore
10. Crooks
11. K. Ward
12. Bryant
13. Reilly

14. Nikau
15. Eagar
16. Vowles
17. B. Lockwood

I thought this also but in the 20 years I've been watching Cas I can remember quite a few average players we've had on the flanks but not many good ones. In his first season Shenton played mainly on the wing so for this reason I think I'd have to go for Ellis and Shenton.

to be honest mate I just couldn't think of another top winger. I'm only 22 so off the top of my head that as the best team I could do lol

I'm a Wakefield fan (so I hope I'm not intruding) but I've seen a lot of Cas over the years so if I can have a go too I'd pick:

1 Steadman
2 Plange
3 Joyner
4 Blackmore
5 St John Ellis
6 Chase
7 Brough
8 Ward
9 Beardmore
10 Johnson
11 French (Ian)
12 Nikau
13 Vowles

I feel bad about not picking Reilly but although I saw him play he was passed his best really. I also liked Dale Fritz a lot but decided Vowles was going to be doing the type of work he was doing so chose French as a runner instead.
Thought about Gibbs but I don't think I saw him play his best games but he would make the bench if I had one.
I realise in reality you wouldn't pick Nikau and Blackmore together if I understand the story correctly but as we are only yalking about a virtual team I figured I was safe.
Crooks and England were unlucky not to get in but I did particularly like Johnson's ball skills so he got the place and Ward is a first pick as far as I am concerned.

1 Steadman
2 SJ, Ellis
3 Joiner
4 Blackmore
5 Fenton
6 Chase
7 Ford
8 Bartram
10 Crooks
11 Nicou
12 Realy
13 Vowles
14 Gibbs
15 Sampson
16 K, Beardmore
17 Fritz
theres lots of players once again it all comes down to the age of the fans , one thing for sure Cas have had some cracking players, born & bred and brought in

ha ha, I don't blame you.
To be honest, I actually liked him as a player, I also find a lot of who you like has a lot to do with how you feel when you go, I used to like Pickering and Shick (spelling) but becuase in loved going in those days, I remember them as better than they probably were!!

Always difficult to compare players from different eras. How about the best TEAM to play, in that all they players played together in the same team.
1. Flowers
2. Gay
3. Eager
4. Maloney
5. Rogers
6. Orr
7. Davies
8. Sykes
9. Raper
10. Sampson
11. Harland
12. Fritz
13. Vowles.

OR
1. Steadman
2. Ellis
3. Blackmore
4. Anderson
5. Middleton
6. Kemp
7. Ford
8. Crooks
9. Russell
10. Ketteridge/Sampson
11. Morrison
12. Smales
13. Nikau.

1. Steadman
2. Plange
3. Joyner
4. Blackmore
5. St John Ellis

6. Hardisty
7. Hepworth

8. Hartley
9. K. Beardmore
10. Crooks
11. K. Ward
12. Bryant
13. Reilly

14. Nikau
15. Eagar
16. Vowles
17. B. Lockwood'"

I saw him play when he was at Manly. For me he is the best player this country has ever produced, and as a Wakey fan that's hard to say. Physically, mentally and ability. He was a bit of an animal but who wasn't then.

For me what set him apart and why I rate him above all others is because of how he made it in Oz.

He went there with a reputation as a hard case. This did not impress the Aussies or the press. The talk was that he would be put in his place as soon as he played his first game, he was after all a soft pom. Malcolm was having non of it and was utterly unfazed. In his first few games he made it his mission to seek out and destroy the hard man of every team he faced. He succeeded and nobody called him a soft pom EVER again.

Can you imagine that now. If we could put a tenth of Malcolm's attitude, guts and drive in the 17 who face Australia next year we would destroy them. Sadly we don't make em like that anymore. Plenty of hard men and a few thugs but none with the brains to match.

He hasn't lost it either...he trains in the gym with the intensity of a guy half his age..more often than not wearing Manly training gear.

I fully accept that Steady wasn't the best coach we have ever had, but this topic is about players not coaches and in my opinion he was the best full back that I have seen (pushed close by Derek Edwards and Gary Belcher).

I also accept Craig Huby's commitment to the club, unfortunately he is not in the same class as Dennis Hartley was - read Malcolm Reilly's autobiography where he states that the only person who ever scared him on the pitch was Dennis!! (quite a compliment). The only 2 other props to come close to Dennis were Crooksy & Kevin Ward - so I put Wardy to 2nd row where he started his career.

I heard he actually started at centre.

I forgot about Danny Orr. I think I will swap Chase out for him. First time round he was outstanding and gets extra points for staying so long and then coming back too.
I am wondering if I should squeeze Tony Merchant in somewhere too.

its hard to just name one team. Especially at second row/loose forward

One of the best I've ever seen for commitment was Danny Nutley when we got relegated in 2004 - he gave 110% in every match no matter what the scoreline was. Sadly this is the attitude that we have been lacking at times

1. Belcher
2. Plange
3. Joyner
4. Blackmore
5. St John Ellis

6. Kemp
7. Ford

8. Sampson
9. Beardmore
10. Crooks
11. K. Ward
12. Nikau
13. Reilly

14. Steadman
15. Gibbs
16. Vowles
17. England

Your eyesight must be great as Danny Nutley played for Castleford in the 2006 season!!!

1. Belcher
2. Plange
3. Joyner
4. Blackmore
5. St John Ellis

6. Steadman
7. Chase

8. K. Ward
9. Beardmore
10. Crooks
11. Lidner
12. Nikau
13. Reilly

14. Sampson
15. Gibbs
16. Nutley
17. Kemp

oopsy.... the point still stands though lol