Guttenbeil: end of his Tiger days

When you are struggling throughout the year and you get some good results like that, it certainly gels the team together and gives you something to hold onto.

Awen Guttenbeil
Quotes of the week

Boots 'n' All caught up with Castleford captain Awen Guttenbeil who will be hanging up his boots after their final game this weekend against Bradford Bulls.

The Tigers may have been bottom of the Super League table all year but their season has been punctuated with some startling performances.

"Beating the big sides, Leeds, St Helens and last hit out against Warrington was fantastic," said Tigers skipper Awen Guttenbeil.

"When you are struggling throughout the year and you get some good results like that, it certainly gels the team together and gives you something to hold on to.

"No one wants to be at the bottom, but you know when you are a promoted side it is going to be a tough battle and it has been that for us.

"But I would like to look at the last half of the year and think that we have progressed some way from the beginning and I am sure leading into next year there is going to be more improvement.

"Off the field it has been fantastic, the time here for me and my family has been wonderful and I could not have asked for anything more. It has been great and the town of Castleford have been kind to us."

Guttenbeil will bring his Castleford career to a close against Bradford Bulls and while there is nothing at stake for the Tigers , they could still help shape the top six. Having suffered two heavy defeats to the Bulls, they could help deny the Bulls a top four finish.

"It is nice to know we can throw a spanner in the works," laughed Guttenbeil.

"If we perform a little better than our last hit out then I think we have a good chance of maybe an upset. It will be nice to play against my old mate Joe Vagana who is hanging up his boots too.

"We shall see who gets the best of this one."