Alex Mellor
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Alex James Mellor[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 September 1994 Halifax, West Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 16 st 1 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 23 May 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alex Mellor (born 24 September 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward or centre for and captains the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.
He has previously played for Bradford Bulls in the Super League and the Championship, and for Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.
Background
[edit]Mellor was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. Mellor is a talented cricketer and represented Yorkshire schoolboys until age 15, when rugby league became his chosen career.[citation needed]
Playing career
[edit]Bradford Bulls
[edit]Mellor had been involved in the Bradford Bulls scholarship system from under-15s.
In the 2013 season, he featured in round 20 Warrington and round 27 against Huddersfield.
In the 2014 season, Mellor featured in the pre-season game against Hull FC. He featured in round 10 Wigan to round 13 Huddersfield then in round 21 against Huddersfield to round 23 Leeds. He played in round 27 London Broncos. He signed a new one-year deal with the Bradford outfit despite their relegation to the Championship.
In the 2015 season, Mellor featured in the pre-season friendlies against Castleford Tigers and Leeds. He featured in round 1 (Leigh) to round 4 (Hunslet Hawks) then in round 9 (London Broncos) to round 16 (Doncaster). Mellor played in the qualifier 3 against Salford to qualifier 4 against Widnes then in qualifier 7 Halifax. Mellor played in the Challenge Cup in round 5 Hull Kingston Rovers. Mid-way through the season, Mellor signed a two-year extension to his contract.[citation needed]
In the 2016 season, Mellor featured in the pre-season friendlies against Leeds and Castleford. He featured in round 2 (Whitehaven) to round 3 Swinton Lions then in round 5 Oldham to round 7 London Broncos. He played in round 10 (Dewsbury Rams) to round 13 against Swinton then in round 15 against Leigh. Mellor featured in round 17 (Workington Town) to round 21 Whitehaven then in round 23 Featherstone Rovers. Mellor featured in the Championship Shield game 1 Whitehaven to the final against Sheffield. Mellor played in the Challenge Cup in the 4th round against the Dewsbury club.
Huddersfield Giants
[edit]Following Bradford's liquidation before the 2017 season, he signed a three-year deal with Super League side Huddersfield.[4]
Mellor featured in round 1 against Widnes to round 6 against Wigan.
Leeds Rhinos
[edit]On 17 October 2020, he played in the 2020 Challenge Cup final victory for Leeds over Salford at Wembley Stadium.[5]
Castleford Tigers
[edit]On 21 June 2022, Castleford Tigers announced that Mellor would join the club with immediate effect, having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal.[6] He made his Tigers debut later that week, in a golden-point win against Catalans Dragons at Wheldon Road.[7][8] He scored his first try for the club against his former side Huddersfield on 19 August.[9]
Ahead of the 2023 season, Mellor was assigned squad number 12 and also appointed Castleford vice-captain.[10][11] On 12 May, playing as a centre, he scored two tries for Castleford in their 22–46 loss against Catalans Dragons.[12] Three weeks later, at the 2023 Magic Weekend, he scored two tries in Castleford's 26–24 win against Leeds.[13] Mellor made twenty-six appearances throughout the season as the club narrowly avoided relegation by finishing above Wakefield.[14] He said, "We've massively underperformed as a team," and that looking forward, "There's a lot of improvements that need to happen across the board."[14]
Mellor suffered a knee injury in a friendly against Keighley ahead of the 2024 season, forcing him to miss the opening two rounds.[15] He displayed impressive form as the season progressed with Castleford director of rugby Danny Wilson praising his "tough line-running",[16] and subsequently signed a two-year contract extension in May.[17] On 12 July, Mellor scored two tries in the Tigers' round 17 win against London.[18] At the end of the season, he was awarded Castleford Player of the Year.[19]
While Castleford finished 11th in the 2025 season, Mellor's performances were praised by The Yorkshire Post which described him as "a shining light in the dark times" and "reliable, wholehearted and prepared to put his body on the line".[20][21] He played twenty-six matches, registering the most minutes of any forward and topping metres gained for the Tigers.[22] In May, he signed a contract extension until the end of 2027; director of rugby Chris Chester said, "He's been our most consistent player in the side this season and has shown extraordinary leadership on and off the field."[23] He retained the Castleford Player of the Year award, as well as being named Players' Player of the Year.[24]
Mellor was appointed club captain for the 2026 season by new head coach Ryan Carr,[25] and spoke of his optimism following improvements around the club.[21][26] He sustained a broken leg in round 2, however this didn't require surgery and he returned after five weeks.[27][28] He was named in the team of the week in rounds 11 and 12 consecutively for his performances in Castleford's victories against York Knights and St Helens.[29][30]
Club statistics
[edit]| Club | Season | Tier | App | T | G | DG | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bradford Bulls |
2013 | Super League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | Super League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | Championship | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Championship | 26 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
| 2022[a] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 52 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 | ||
 Huddersfield Giants |
2017 | Super League | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2018 | Super League | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | |
| 2019 | Super League | 27 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
| Total | 79 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 76 | ||
 Leeds Rhinos |
2020 | Super League | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2021 | Super League | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 2022 | Super League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
 Castleford Tigers |
2022 | Super League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | Super League | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
| 2024 | Super League | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
| 2025 | Super League | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | |
| 2026 | Super League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 98 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 60 | ||
| Career total | 263 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 188 | ||
References
[edit]- ↑ Companies House
- 1 2 "Player Summary: Alex Mellor". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers' Club. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Alex Mellor - Playing Career". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "UPDATED: Mellor and Welham latest to move on from liquidated Bulls". Telegraph & Argus. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ↑ "Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Alex Mellor: Castleford Tigers sign Leeds Rhinos back-rower". BBC Sport. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 17-16 Catalans Dragons - Danny Richardson kicks winner". BBC Sport. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Heppenstall, Ross (27 June 2022). "Alex Mellor out to silence Leeds Rhinos critics after Castleford Tigers move". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ "Super League: Huddersfield Giants 36-10 Castleford Tigers - Giants' top-two hopes boosted". BBC Sport. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Harber, Tony (14 February 2023). "Castleford Tigers confirm Paul McShane and Alex Mellor as captain and vice-captain for 2023". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Darbyshire, Drew (20 January 2023). "Castleford Tigers 2023 squad numbers: Gareth Widdop to wear No. 6 shirt". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 22-46 Catalans Dragons - Tigers suffer fourth straight loss". BBC Sport. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Bazeley, Marc (3 June 2023). "Leeds Rhinos 24-26 Castleford Tigers: Jason Qareqare's converted try snatches vital Magic Weekend win". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- 1 2 Olawumi, Ben (22 September 2023). "Castleford Tigers ace Alex Mellor delivers brutally honest assessment of 'awful' season; 'We've massively underperformed'". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ O'Brien, James (17 January 2024). "Alex Mellor to miss start of Super League season in injury blow for Castleford Tigers". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ↑ O'Brien, James (21 May 2024). "Castleford Tigers' 2025 squad continues to take shape with Alex Mellor re-signing". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ↑ "Castleford's Mellor and Robb sign two-year deals". BBC Sport. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ↑ "Controlled Castleford beat bottom club Broncos". BBC Sport. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ↑ Olawumi, Ben (21 September 2024). "Every Super League club's Player of the Year: Mikey Lewis, Rhyse Martin, Matt Dufty..." Love Rugby League. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ↑ O'Brien, James (5 September 2025). "Castleford Tigers 26 Wakefield Trinity 22: Old magic returns to Wheldon Road as hosts deal hammer blow to rivals' play-off hopes". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- 1 2 O'Brien, James (2 December 2025). "Alex Mellor sees light at end of tunnel for Castleford Tigers amid genuine 2026 optimism". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Season Review: Castleford Tigers". Super League. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Bower, Aaron (23 May 2025). "Castleford start retention drive with key player signing long-term deal". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ↑ Walker, Callum (15 November 2025). "Super League 2025: Castleford Tigers season review". TotalRL. Archived from the original on 8 December 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ↑ Shaw, Matthew (24 January 2026). "Castleford Tigers appoint new captain as Ryan Carr era begins". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ↑ Harber, Tony (23 December 2025). "Alex Mellor on 'different feel' to Castleford Tigers ahead of new season". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Castleford captain Mellor out with broken leg". BBC Sport. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Chapman Coombe, Louis (26 February 2026). "Castleford Tigers captain Alex Mellor set for long absence with horror injury". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Round 11 Team of the Week". Super League. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ Super League [@SuperLeague] (25 May 2026). "The Round 12 #SuperLeague Team of the Week" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 May 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).