WILL Maher and Jacques O’Neill have again been handed squad numbers with Super League side Castleford Tigers for the 2019 season.

O’Neill, who hails from Askam, has been given the number 29 shirt for this year after wearing 31 for his first season with the senior squad in 2018.

The 19-year-old hooker got his first taste of senior rugby league last September when he played for Leigh Centurions in the Championship Shield final, having been loaned to the club for the match with Featherstone Rovers due to Leigh suffering a player shortage.

He was on the losing side that day, with Featherstone triumphing 42-10, but will no doubt be hungry for more on the back of that and be aiming to force his way into Castleford head coach Daryl Powell’s plans.

Maher, from Haverthwaite, has been given the number 23 shirt for this year, a change from wearing 25 last year.

The prop made three Super League appearances for Tigers in 2018, including starting in the 19-18 win at home to Wigan Warriors, and enjoyed a successful loan spell with Halifax in the Betfred Championship.

However, Maher is currently recovering from an injury suffered in the first session of pre-season training which is set to rule him out until the Super League campaign is under way.

It follows former Dalton amateur Liam Paisley again earning a squad number at Wigan for 2019.