He faced Nathan Cleary on his NRL debut – and is now preparing to face Super League heavyweights for the first time.
Castleford Tigers half-back Tom Weaver is set to make his Super League debut against Wigan Warriors.
Thrown in at the deep end against a champion Penrith Panthers side stacked with superstars, Castleford’s new No.7 Tom Weaver is now gearing up for another baptism of fire – a Super League bow against competition heavyweights Wigan Warriors.
The 22-year-old has swapped the comfort of Australia’s Gold Coast for West Yorkshire, tasked with leading the Tigers into a new era after being handed the number seven shirt by head coach Ryan Carr.
Weaver had known nothing but his home Down Under – sunshine and coastal views – having been part of the Gold Coast Titans system since the age of 14. He progressed through the NRL club’s pathways and featured in the Queensland Cup before coming up against a side widely regarded as one of the greatest in rugby league history.
At 20, he lined up opposite Australia and New South Wales star Nathan Cleary. Today, he prepares to face Wigan’s Bevan French and Harry Smith at the OneBore Stadium.
“It was a bit daunting making my first-team debut in 2023 against Penrith, because they had won three premierships in a row at the time and I was coming up against probably the world’s best player in Nathan Cleary,” Weaver said.
“It was a great experience and I was grateful for the opportunity at the Titans.
“Now, coming over here and preparing to face Wigan – they’re a strong club with a strong team and have been for many years. I’m looking forward to the challenge and seeing where we’re at. The more time we spend together on the field, the harder we’ll be to beat.”
Fellow Australian Carr will lead Castleford into a new campaign after being appointed on a three-year deal ahead of 2026, making the move from the St George Illawarra Dragons, where he served as an assistant coach.
Belief is high that Castleford can challenge for the play-offs again, having last qualified in 2019.
“I don’t think we’re just aiming for the top six – we’re here to win and to win as many games as possible, with making the six the first step,” Weaver declared.
“The end goal is to win the whole thing, and we have that belief. Our focus is on reaching the final game, and that belief will only grow.”
