LONDON: Josh Mantellato came to Hull KR's rescue as they kicked off their 2016 Super League season with a 16-16 draw at home to Castleford.
Denny Solomona crossed to put the Tigers ahead, but James Donaldson's score before the interval levelled up proceedings at the KC Lightstream Stadium.
Jake Webster then hit back for the visitors before Mantellato got the first of his two-second half tries to trim the lead down to two points.
Webster then bagged his second before former Newcastle Knight Mantellato -- who helped Hull KR get all the way to the Challenge Cup final last season -- crossed and held his nerve with the conversion to leave it honours even on the opening weekend of action.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Widnes Vikings kicked off their season in style with a comfortable 24-16 win over Wakefield.
The Wildcats finished bottom of the regular season standings last year but survived relegation in the Super League's Million Pound Game when they beat Bradford.
And it was they who opened the scoring through Stu Howarth's try before the Vikings started to find their groove.
Setaimata Sa, on his Widnes debut, crossed twice along with Rhys Hanbury to give them an 18-4 lead at half-time.
Reece Lyne and Mikey Sio both then went over for the Wildcats but Lloyd White's score secured two points for Denis Betts's side.
On Friday, Michael McIlorum bagged a double as Wigan kicked off their Super League season with a hard-fought 12-6 victory over Catalan Dragons.
McIlorum scored both of his tries in a three minute window at the end of the first half but Justin Horo's score at the start of the second period left the game hanging in the balance.
A Matty Smith penalty then stretched the lead out to six points and Wigan -- beaten Super League Grand Finalists for the last two years in a row -- held on for the win.
It was also good news for St Helens who began the season with an impressive 30-16 win over Huddersfield Giants.
Centre Mark Percival crossed twice at Langtree Park for the 2014 champions, who were beaten in the semi-finals of both Super League and the Challenge Cup last season.
Atelea Vea, Jordan Turner and Luke Thompson all bagged tries as well for the home side, Huddersfield replied through Aaron Murphy, Ukuma Ta'ai and Jake Connor.
Also on Friday, Hull FC kicked off their season in fine style with eight different players scoring tries in their 42-20 win over Salford.
Leon Pryce, Mahe Fonua, Jordan Thompson, Fetuli Talanoa, Carlos Tuimavave and Josh Bowden crossed in the first half and Jack Logan and Jamie Shaul also went over in the second period.
On Thursday's opening night of the new season, defending champions Leeds Rhinos slipped to a narrow 12-10 defeat to Warrington Wolves at Headlingley.
Chris Sandow impressed for the Wolves, crossing for their first try and creating the second before Zak Hardaker missed with a late penalty that would have earned Leeds a draw.
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