Former Batley Bulldogs and Keighley Cougars head coach Craig Lingard will succeed Danny Ward as head coach of Castleford Tigers after signing a two-year contract; Danny McGuire joins Lingard at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle as assistant coach after recently leaving Hull Kingston Rovers
Last updated: 10/17/23 6:00 PM
Craig Lingard takes over as Castleford’s new head coach
Craig Lingard will take over as head coach of Castleford Tigers for the 2024 Betfred Super League season, with Danny McGuire as his assistant.
Lingard initially joined the Tigers as assistant to Andy Last, combining that role with his position as head coach of Betfred Championship side Batley Bulldogs, and continuing as part of the Tigers’ coaching staff when Danny Ward replaced Last in August.
The 45-year-old was due to take up a full-time assistant role at Castleford from next season but has now signed a two-year contract to become head coach after Ward turned down the chance to extend his stay at the Mend-fordshire side. A-Hose Jungle after the 2023 season, despite avoiding relegation.
“I am extremely honored,” said Lingard. “Something I have always dreamed of is being a head coach in the Super League and now I have that opportunity.
“It’s come a little earlier than I expected, but it’s something I’m going to grab with both hands and hopefully it will be a success.
“I come in with my eyes fully open, it’s not a new venue for me and I have a good idea of how the club works and with a lot of staff changes, with people leaving and people coming in. Most of the squad staying, I have experience working with those guys.
Something I have always aspired to is to be a head coach in the Super League and I now have that opportunity. It’s come a little earlier than I expected, but it’s something I’m going to grab with both hands.
New Castleford head coach Craig Lingard
“I can work a little closer with them next year and put my stamp on how I want us to play and the values we want to bring back to Castleford Tigers to make us more successful than we have been this season.”
Lingard moved into coaching after a 10-year playing career at Batley, moving on to his first head coaching job in the professional ranks at Keighley Cougars, where he was in charge from 2017 to 2019.
He returned to Fox’s Biscuits Stadium in 2020 and guided Batley to the 2022 Championship Final, where they were defeated by Leigh Centurions, and a narrow defeat to Halifax Panthers in the 1895 Cup Final at Wembley.
Danny McGuire becomes Craig Lingard’s assistant at Castleford
Leeds Rhino’s big McGuire, meanwhile, joins Lingard after leaving fellow Super League club Hull Kingston Rovers at the end of the 2023 season, where he had served as assistant to Willie Peters.
“I’m really excited about the challenge after quite a bit of speculation, but for me it’s about looking forward to working with a really talented group of players and a club with history and everything that surrounds Castleford Tigers,” said McGuire.
“I’m still quite early in my coaching journey and still have a lot to learn and experience, so I’m excited to be working with someone who has achieved so much in the game, so I’ll pick his brain, hopefully we can do very well gel and works well as a combination.”
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