Ashton Golding pens two-year Castleford Tigers extension

Ashton Golding is staying at Castleford Tigers for the next two seasons.

The 30-year-old has signed a two-year contract extension that runs until the end of 2028. Castleford announced the deal under the headline 'GOLDING PENS CAS EXTENSION' on 19 October, with details reported by BBC Sport on 20 October.

Golding plays at hooker for the Tigers. That is the busy job in the middle of the field, collecting the ball after each tackle and firing it out to start the next attack.

He only joined Castleford in February. He arrived on a short-term deal until the end of the season. He made it stick.

Golding scored four tries in 13 appearances, according to BBC Sport. A try, worth four points in rugby league, is scored by grounding the ball over the opposition line. He struck on his debut too, touching down as Castleford routed Huddersfield Giants in late February.

The extension will keep him at The OneBore Stadium, the club confirmed on its official site. For a player who arrived with no long-term security, it is a swift turnaround.

His route to Castleford ran through two Yorkshire rivals. Golding previously played for Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants. At Leeds he broke through as a full-back, the last line of defence who returns kicks and joins the attack, before later remaking himself as a hooker.

That versatility helped him in a Castleford shirt. He offered energy around the ruck, the area after the tackle where the ball is played back, and a threat near the line. Four scores in 13 games is a strong return for a forward.

What makes this stand out is the timing. Short-season signings often come and go. Golding did enough in eight months to earn two more years.

For fans, this means continuity. Castleford keep an experienced middle player who knows Super League, the top division of rugby league in Britain and France, and who has settled quickly into the group under director of rugby Chris Chester.