Alex Mellor

For the English cricketer, see Alex Mellor (cricketer).

Alex Mellor
Personal information
Full nameAlex James Mellor[1]
Born (1994-09-24) 24 September 1994
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Height6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)
Weight16 st 1 lb (102 kg)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–16 Bradford Bulls 51 9 0 0 36
2017–19 Huddersfield Giants 79 19 0 0 76
2020–22 Leeds Rhinos 34 4 0 0 16
2022(loan) → Bradford Bulls 1 0 0 0 0
2022– Castleford Tigers 89 15 0 0 60
Total 254 47 0 0 188
Source: [2][3]
As of 19 September 2025

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 the Bradford Bulls in the Super League and the Championship, and for the Huddersfield Giants and the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.

Background

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.

Playing career

Bradford Bulls

Mellor had been involved in the Bradford Bulls scholarship system from under-15's.

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.

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

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

On 17 October 2020, he played in the 2020 Challenge Cup Final victory for Leeds over Salford at Wembley Stadium.[5]

Castleford Tigers

On 21 June 2022, the 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 the 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 the 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 25 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]

In the 2025 season, Mellor played 26 matches for Castleford as the club finished 11th on the table, with his performances described as "a shining light in the dark times" by The Yorkshire Post.[20] 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."[21] He retained the Castleford Player of the Year award, as well as being named Players' Player of the Year.[22]

Mellor was appointed club captain for the 2026 season by new head coach Ryan Carr.[23]

Club statistics

Appearances and points in all competitions by year
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
Total 89 15 0 0 60
Career total 254 47 0 0 188
As of match played 19 September 2025[2][3]
  1. ^ Rejoined on loan from Leeds in 2022

References

  1. ^ Companies House
  2. ^ a b RL Record Keepers' Club
  3. ^ a b Rugby League Project
  4. ^ "UPDATED: Mellor and Welham latest to move on from liquidated Bulls". Telegraph & Argus. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ "Alex Mellor: Castleford Tigers sign Leeds Rhinos back-rower". BBC Sport. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 17-16 Catalans Dragons - Danny Richardson kicks winner". BBC Sport. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  8. ^ Heppenstall, Ross (27 June 2022). "Alex Mellor out to silence Leeds Rhinos critics after Castleford Tigers move". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Super League: Huddersfield Giants 36-10 Castleford Tigers - Giants' top-two hopes boosted". BBC Sport. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (20 January 2023). "Castleford Tigers 2023 squad numbers: Gareth Widdop to wear No. 6 shirt". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 22-46 Catalans Dragons - Tigers suffer fourth straight loss". BBC Sport. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ a b 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Castleford's Mellor and Robb sign two-year deals". BBC Sport. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Controlled Castleford beat bottom club Broncos". BBC Sport. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Bower, Aaron (23 May 2025). "Castleford start retention drive with key player signing long-term deal". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Shaw, Matthew (24 January 2026). "Castleford Tigers appoint new captain as Ryan Carr era begins". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
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