Off the field, Eddie Ashton had stood down as Chairman to be replaced by Philip Hindle. During the season Richard Wright also joined the board.

The revolution that was Super League and summer rugby was due to start in March 1996, so this season had to be squeezed into a period from late August to late January. The Super League teams, which included Castleford, formed the Centenary Championship. However, as Paris St Germain were not yet fully launched, the league was made up of 11 teams, playing 20 games in total. With the Regal Trophy and a four-week break for the World Cup on top of league games, the pressure was on all clubs. The criticism of fitting so much in and then only having a few weeks off-season was balanced by the need for clubs’ cash flow. There was no Challenge Cup competition, it being held over to count in the 1996 season. Similarly there were no play-offs, the team finishing at the top of the table (Wigan) becoming champions and keeping the old trophy, which was replaced by a new Super League trophy.

A new rule allowing four substitutes came into being, although they could only be used once. Midway through the season the unsuccessful rule whereby the scoring team kicked off back to the other team was also brought in. In this year, referees were able to put players on report for the first time.

Castleford had brought in some experienced players such as Colin Maskill and Tony Marchant and this helped as the first 2 games were won, including beating Leeds. However, the season developed into a frustratingly inconsistent one, with 2 wins on the trot not being achieved again until the final 2 games of the season. An away defeat in the Regal Trophy to Carlisle, a team in the second division, was symptomatic of troubled times. Coach John Joyner even went into print to say some players were not giving their best shot in games. On a more positive note, Dean Sampson achieved his 250th game for the club during the season, becoming only the 35th player to do so in the club's history.

The playing record was P20 W9 D1 L10 to finish 6th from 11. In all 21 games were played and 28 players used in a season where most of the headlines came off the field. Rule changes had been brought in during the season to speed up play and this certainly led to more scoring as players adapted to faster games. A Castleford win at London Broncos in the final match by 50–44 was not what the purists wanted but time would decide the success of aiming for more open play. Despite the faster games only one hat trick was scored – from forward Andrew Schick in the last game of the season.

On the transfer front, a deal to sign Paul Sterling, ex-Leeds and Hull winger, fell through at the very last hurdle, after his signing had been announced but before he made extra demands. Rumours also named Paul Newlove from Bradford Northern. The problem John Joyner faced was all clubs were holding onto players until Super League was finally decided.

Only two days after the season ended the Rugby League Board of Directors presented their Framing the Future report. It included the requirement to have certain managerial positions such as Chief Executive, a reduction in salary cap to 40% of income and an increased overseas quota. Although the aims were laudable in bettering the standard of clubs, Castleford were immediately placed in a position, with others, of having to divert attention and resources away from the team. The new stand development announced the previous season was high on the agenda but funding was the big problem.

The Academy team took the championship title finishing top of the league from Wigan.

Representatives

Lee Bardauskas , Andy Hill, Steve Hill, Ben Mills, David Oldfield and Scott Robinson played for Yorkshire Academy against Lancashire.
Dean Sampson and Tony Smith played for England

Debut this season after joining the club

Adrian Flynn wing Wakefield £70,000
Colin Maskill hooker Doncaster
Andrew Schick second row from Australia, Brisbane Redcliffe
Tony Marchant centre Dewsbury for his second stint at the club
Brendan Tuuta second row Featherstone

Other debuts

David Furness wing
Sean Richardson sub forward
Andy Hill sub forward

Last career game played this season and next move

Phil Eden centre
Paul Darley hooker Hull on loan later permanent 1996
Craig Palmer second row
Simon Price scrum-half Featherstone 1996
Andy Hill forward York but re-signed from them for second stint 1999