Castleford Tigers vs York Knights Prediction: Tigers backed for big win

| Friday 26th June 2026, 8:10

Friday 26th June 2026, 8:10

After a slow start Castleford Tigers are quietly edging their way up the Betfred Super League table, and are presented with another winnable home game on Friday night when new boys York head to the Jungle. (Kick off 8pm)

Cas have uncovered a try machine in winger Jason Qareqare, and with three wins in their last five the Tigers should have too much for a Knights side on a six-match winless run. Check out my Castleford Tigers vs York Knights prediction down below.

Castleford Tigers vs York Knights Betting Tips

Handicap 3-way Castleford Tigers -16 @ 20/21
Krystian Mapapalangi anytime tryscorer @ 4/6

*odds correct at time of publishing

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Castleford Tigers vs York Knights Odds

Team news

Cas boss Ryan Carr again makes just one change this week and it is a positive one as Semi Valemei returns from suspension to replace Darnell McIntosh out wide. There is no Jack Ashworth with the forward having joined Doncaster on loan.

Fiji international Mikaele Ravalawa also remains absent.

York boss Mark Applegarth makes one change too but it is a notable one as former Man of Steel Paul McShane is finally fit to return.

The hooker takes the place of France prop Justin Sangare who was not used last week despite being named initially.

Handicap 3-way Castleford Tigers -16 @ 20/21

This is a Tigers team coming into form I feel, and they justified our backing last week with a 36-18 win over Toulouse having backed them at 6/5 on the -14 handicap.

Qareqare also scored again (twice) at 4/6 for a full house of returns on our Tigers tips, and it can be a similar story this week. York will be lifted by McShane's return, although he will be short of match fitness after his injury.

If Cas start this game with the same energy with which they destroyed their French opponents en route to a 24-0 half-time lead last week, then the Knights' night could be a tough one. But there is fight in this York team and there is no reason to suggest they will just roll over.

I do though feel we may end up with a similar scoreline as last week, with Castleford visibly improving under Ryan Carr.

York will need to find a way to stop Qareqare and Krystian Mapapalangi down the Cas left edge if they are to get something out of this game.

These two teams only met last month as it happens, with Cas winning in North Yorkshire by a single score at 24-18, overturning a half-time deficit in doing so.

So York have a gameplan that can work against this Cas team, they just need to implement it for 80 minutes.

Castleford Tigers vs York Knights - Handicap 3-Way

Castleford Tigers -16

20/21

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Krystian Mapapalangi anytime tryscorer @ 4/6

Let's be honest, winger Jason Qaraqare is the play in the anytime market all day long, with 12 tries for the campaign including eight in his last five games.

The odds though are dramatically shortening as his purple patch extends, and as such 1/2 to cross in this one is both extremely likely but not particularly enticing.

So where else is the value?

I personally feel that left edge of Qareqare and centre Mapapalangi (4/6) is the sweet spot and both are very reliable scorers in this Tigers team. Mapapalangi didn't cross last week but he could have done, supplying the final pass to winger Qareqare when he could have gone himself.

So given the respective odds I feel Mapapalangi may be the pick this week against a York side hemorrhaging points. (473 in 15 games at an average of 31.5 is not going to win you many games of rugby)

Other good options are livewire full-back Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e (6/4) who is finding some scoring form since his move from Catalans, while for York former NRL flyer David Nofoaluma at 6/4 is their key strike threat.

Castleford Tigers vs York Knights - Anytime Try Scorer

Krystian Mapapalangi Anytime Scorer

4/6

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

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