Coach Darryl Van de Velde was keen for Castleford to win the championship for the first time in the club's history. Having gained a fifth finish last season he rang the changes in areas he considered the team needed strengthening. Old stalwarts and favourites were allowed to leave and very large sums of money spent on new players. A rugby league record £170,000 went on Graham Steadman, £150,000 on Lee Crooks and £60,000 on Ian Bragger (who had been interesting Leeds) in addition to wheeling and dealing players such as exchanging Tony Marchant for Neil Roebuck plus £35,000 cash adjustment. One deal that didn't happen was the rejection of a Hull offer of Gary Divorty for David Plange. They in turn rejected Castleford's offer of £90,000 for Divorty. He eventually signed for Leeds for £120,000. The transfer of Lee Crooks might also have never taken place as Featherstone made an offer of £170,000 late on but Crooks rejected the move.

The rugby league were still keen to stop brawling, and indeed in a home game against Hull the referee took both teams off for 5 minutes after a brawl. Both clubs were fined £3000 for bringing the game into disrepute, £2500 of which was suspended for a year. The other rugby league crusade was against head high tackling, and all teams suffered from refereeing decisions to send off players for the slightest suspicion in the tackle, with a significant number later found not guilty. An eight match ban was normal and intended as a heavy deterrent. Of the six Castleford men sent off in the season, two were later found not guilty.

One of the newcomers, St John Ellis joined the list of Castleford tries in a match record holders when he scored five in a 62–2 win at Whitehaven. Graham Steadman's transfer was not the only time he hit the headlines. In the same Regal Trophy game at Whitehaven he was hit off the ball by Gary Charlton after 4 minutes and suffered a broken nose and cheekbone. Charlton was later suspended sine die, after video evidence was presented, although the suspension was lifted one year later.

Steadman came back with a bang though, and in April scored 36 points in a 65-0 win over Salford. This would have equalled a first division record had it not been for a certain Bob Beardmore scoring 38 only three years previously.

In the tour game Castleford lost narrowly to New Zealand by 22–24, the winning try coming 5 minutes from the end in a game where injury weakened Castleford were playing tourists who had not played for a few weeks.

Despite the stated league ambition, Castleford again made the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Cup and Regal Trophy, but lost to Featherstone 26–28 in a replay and Wigan 10–24. The league record was P26, W16, D0, L10 to finish 7th from 14 – lower than last year. 37 matches were played overall and 36 players used. The club scored 1001 points in the season, the highest ever. In addition to the 5 try performance by St John Ellis, David Plange and Steve Larder both recorded 4 tries in a game. Hat tricks were also scored by Steve Larder (x3), Graham Steadman (x3), St John Ellis, Dean Sampson and Shaun Irwin. Average attendance slipped by 152 to 6428.

Darryl Van de Velde signed a two-year contract extension as he maintained his championship ambitions. Inconsistency was again the problem to be cured. After three consecutive wins in December, the team then lost 8 games, only to win the next 10. Van De Velde conceded he had learned a lot about man management during the defeats, as he had been far too critical of each player’s performance. That he turned the results around indeed proved his point.

Tony Marchant ended his first stint at the club when he moved to Bradford Northern in exchange for Neil Roebuck plus £35,000 as mentioned above.

In recognition, Shaun Irwin captained Great Britain Under 21. Castleford were named Stones Bitter team of the month in March.

In the Alliance, Castleford again performed creditably, finishing third in the first division and getting to the final of the Yorkshire Senior Competition Challenge Cup, losing 8–29 to Hull KR.

Off the field, the club made ground improvements with the installation of its hospitality boxes at the Wheldon Road end and a new scoreboard with a clock in. At board level, ex-player Ron Hill was a new member.

Supporters could visit the club shop and buy shell suits as worn by the players for £38.99.

Representatives

Kevin Beardmore and Graham Steadman played for Yorkshire
Grant Anderson, Shaun Irwin, Neil Roebuck and Graham Southernwood played for Great Britain under 21
Kevin Beardmore, Keith England, Shaun Irwin and Graham Steadman played for Great Britain
Keith England, Shaun Irwin and Graham Steadman toured Papua New Guinea and New Zealand with Great Britain

Debut this season after joining the club

Steve Larder full-back from Illawarra
Gary French scrum-half from Brisbane Broncos
Graham Steadman stand-off Featherstone Rovers £170,000 (£145,000 plus £25,000 if played for Great Britain)
St John Ellis wing York £30,000 in exchange for Dean Mountain and £20,000
Ian Bragger centre Salford £60,000
Neil Roebuck loose forward Bradford Northern as part of deal with Tony Marchant
Jeff Hardy Australian stand-off Sheffield Eagles
Lee Crooks prop Leeds £150,000
Andy Clarke prop Wakefield Rugby Union

Other debuts

Darren Price sub back Pointer Panthers
Tony Smith sub back Castleford Juniors
Paul Whitehead sub forward Redhill U17s

Last career game played this season and next move

Kevin Ward prop St Helens £80,000
Kenny Hill hooker Doncaster on loan later returned. Joined Scarborough Pirates £5000 1990/91
John Blackburn second row Rochdale £20,000
Chris Chapman winger Huddersfield £12,500
Wayne Thornton second row Bramley on loan later returned then to Doncaster 1992/93
Roy Southernwood scrum-half Halifax 1990/91
Paul Crabtree second row
Darren Price wing Doncaster 1990/91
Mark Gibson utility back
Phil Mirfin second row Keighley on loan later to Ryedale-York on loan 1990/91 thenScarborough Pirates £4000 1991/92
Dean Blankley scrum-half Bramley £5000 1990/91

Overseas Short term Contract players

Ron Gibbs second row from Gold Coast Giants for second spell at the club. First spell 1988/89.