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Nathan Massey (rugby league, born 1989)

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For Canberra Raiders fullback, see Nathan Massey (rugby league born 1991).

Nathan Massey (born 11 July 1989) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop or loose forward in the Super League and the RFL Championship in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

Nathan Massey
Personal information
Full nameNathan Christopher Massey[1]
Born (1989-07-11) 11 July 1989 (age 35)
Castleford, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight16 st 1 lb (102 kg)[2]
PositionProp, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–23 Castleford Tigers 302 13 0 0 52
2008(loan) → Featherstone Rovers 3 0 0 0 0
2008(loan) → York City Knights 5 0 0 0 0
2009(loan) → Gateshead Thunder 10 0 0 0 0
2010(DR) → Keighley Cougars 1 0 0 0 0
2011(DR) → York City Knights 8 1 0 0 4
2024 Featherstone Rovers 7 1 0 0 4
Total 336 15 0 0 60
Source: [3][4][5]

Massey spent the majority of his playing career with the Castleford Tigers in the Super League after progressing through the club's academy. Across a 19-year stay at Castleford, he made 302 senior appearances, ranking second only to former captain Michael Shenton in the summer era. He played in the 2014 and 2021 Challenge Cup finals, the 2017 Super League Grand Final, and won the 2017 League Leaders' Shield.

Early in his career, he spent time on loan or dual registration from Castleford at Featherstone Rovers, Gateshead Thunder, and York City Knights in the RFL Championship, and at the Keighley Cougars and York City Knights in League 1. He signed for Featherstone Rovers in 2024 where he spent one season before announcing his retirement.

Background

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Massey was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire, England.

Massey played junior rugby league for Wakefield-based side Walton Warriors before being signed to the Castleford Tigers academy at the age of 15.[6]

Playing career

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Castleford Tigers

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Massey progressed through the ranks at the Castleford Tigers academy and made his first team début on 11 March 2007 in an 88–10 victory over Castleford Lock Lane in the Challenge Cup. He was named the Tigers Academy player of the year in 2007.[7]

On 24 March 2008, Massey made his Super League début for Castleford against the Warrington Wolves.[8] In the 2008 season, Massey spent time on loan at Featherstone in the Championship and at York in League 1 to gain first team experience.[9] He impressed for the Knights, who expressed a desire to extend his stay at the club into the next season.[10] He was given an upgraded full-time contract by Castleford in August 2008.[7][11]

Massey spent time on loan at Gateshead Thunder alongside several Castleford teammates in 2009.[12][13] In March 2010, he joined Keighley Cougars on a dual registration deal.[14][15] Despite making an impressive debut, he suffered a severe shoulder injury against the Sheffield Eagles in his first game for the club, ending his season prematurely.[16][17]

Massey began the 2011 season playing for the York City Knights in the Championship through their dual registration arrangement with Castleford.[17][18] He had been linked with a loan move to Harlequins but the Tigers preferred he went to York, from whom he could be recalled each week if needed.[17] In his second spell with the club, he was voted the Player of the Month for February,[19] and scored his first competitive try on 13 March against Hunslet.[20] In June, the Knights decided against renewing Massey's temporary deal to free up salary cap space and instead develop their own players;[21][22] he scored 2 tries against Rochdale in the Challenge Cup on his return to Castleford.[23] Injuries to teammates afforded Massey an extended run in the Tigers' first team, and he made 15 appearances during the remainder of the season.[4]

He played in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium.[24]

He played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.[25][26][27]

On 30 April 2021, Massey made his 250th Castleford appearance.[28] On 17 July 2021, he played for Castleford in their 2021 Challenge Cup Final loss against St Helens.[29]

Massey made his 300th Castleford appearance on 8 September 2023 in the Tigers' 29–12 victory over Hull FC.[30]

Featherstone Rovers

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On 10 November 2023, it was announced that Massey had signed for Featherstone Rovers for the 2024 season.[31][32] He had originally agreed terms while Featherstone were anticipating promotion to the Super League, but said he "wanted to commit to the project even though we're still in the Championship".[33]

International honours

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On 4 November 2007, Massey was named as one of ten interchanges for the United States in a 70–0 warm-up game defeat by Cumbria at Barrow's stadium, Craven Park.[34][35] He has later clarified that he has "no allegiance to America", with the experience coming about through U.S. team manager Mick Robinson being football manager at Castleford.[36] He has had no involvement since, being ineligible under IRL rules.[36]

Statistics

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Appearances and points in all competitions by year
Club Season Tier App T G DG Pts
  Castleford Tigers 2007 National League One 1 0 0 0 0
2008 Super League 2 0 0 0 0
2009 Super League 4 0 0 0 0
2010 Super League 2 0 0 0 0
2011 Super League 15 2 0 0 8
2012 Super League 27 1 0 0 4
2013 Super League 28 4 0 0 16
2014 Super League 23 1 0 0 4
2015 Super League 23 2 0 0 8
2016 Super League 21 0 0 0 0
2017 Super League 30 1 0 0 4
2018 Super League 26 0 0 0 0
2019 Super League 27 1 0 0 4
2020 Super League 15 1 0 0 4
2021 Super League 22 0 0 0 0
2022 Super League 16 0 0 0 0
2023 Super League 20 0 0 0 0
Total 302 13 0 0 52
→   York City Knights (loan/DR) 2008 National League Two 5 0 0 0 0
2011 Championship 8 1 0 0 4
Total 13 1 0 0 4
→   Gateshead Thunder (loan) 2009 Championship 10 0 0 0 0
→   Keighley Cougars (DR) 2010 Championship 1 1 0 0 0 0
  Featherstone Rovers 2008[a] National League One 3 0 0 0 0
2024 Championship 7 1 0 0 4
Total 10 1 0 0 4
Career total 336 15 0 0 60
  1. ^ On loan from Castleford in 2008 before joining permanently in 2024

References

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  1. ^ Companies House
  2. ^ "Nathan Massey Biography". Castleford Tigers. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  3. ^ Rugby League Project
  4. ^ a b "Player Summary: Nathan Massey". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  5. ^ loverugbyleague
  6. ^ "Tigers prop Massey signs contract extension". Pontefract and Castleford Express. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b "New Deal For Nathan". Castleford Tigers RLFC. 27 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Castleford 31-34 Warrington". BBC Sport. 24 March 2008. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  9. ^ Martel, Stuart (2 August 2008). "Tigers tie-up pays dividends as York sign teenage prop". The York Press. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  10. ^ Martini, Peter (11 August 2008). "Knights eyeing Massey move to cap high five". The York Press. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  11. ^ Martini, Peter (28 August 2008). "Knights extra has big future". The York Press. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Anth's a good Find – Rod". The Evening Chronicle. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Newcastle Thunder Heritage". Newcastle Thunder. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Castleford prop Nathan Massey joins Keighley on loan". BBC Sport. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  15. ^ Murphy, Connor (1 April 2010). "Tigers prop adds bite to Cougars". Keighley News. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  16. ^ Murphy, Connor (4 April 2010). "Cougars poised to 'turn the corner'". The Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  17. ^ a b c Martini, Peter (4 February 2011). "York City Knights land Castleford Tigers' Nathan Massey and John Davies". The York Press. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  18. ^ "York City Knights sign Castleford's Massey and Davies". BBC Sport. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Nathan Massey is York City Knights' top prop". The York Press. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Hunslet Hawks 28 - 28 York City Knights". RL Record Keepers' Club. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  21. ^ Martini, Peter (4 June 2011). "Championship debut beckons for Knights' Adam Howard". The York Press. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  22. ^ Martini, Peter (8 June 2011). "Knights salary cap limit at root of Castleford loan u-turn". The York Press. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Tigers find their roar". Sky Sports. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  25. ^ "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  27. ^ "Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  28. ^ ""I am proud to play for this club" – Castleford stalwart Nathan Massey signs new deal". Love Rugby League. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Challenge Cup: St Helens beat Castleford 26-12 for first Wembley victory since 2008". www.bbc.co.uk.
  30. ^ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 29-12 Hull FC - Cas close in on survival". BBC Sport. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  31. ^ Olawumi, Ben (10 November 2023). "Featherstone Rovers swoop to sign Castleford Tigers stalwart: 'I can't wait to get stuck in'". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  32. ^ Walker, Callum (10 November 2023). "Ex-Castleford Tigers forward Nathan Massey finds new club". Total RL. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  33. ^ O'Brien, James (10 November 2023). "Former Castleford Tigers prop Nathan Massey follows through on Featherstone Rovers pledge despite Championship status". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Stars earn their stripes". The Whitehaven News. 5 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 November 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  36. ^ a b Smith, Peter (3 February 2023). "Castleford Tigers testimonial star Nathan Massey reveals bizarre story behind one-game USA career". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
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