Former Batley Bulldogs and Keighley Cougars head coach Craig Lingard will succeed Danny Ward as Castleford Tigers’ head coach after signing a two-year deal; Danny McGuire joins Lingard on the Mend-A-Hose Jungle as assistant coach having lately left Hull Kingston Rovers
Final Up to date: 17/10/23 6:00pm
Craig Lingard is taking on as Castleford’s new head coach
Craig Lingard will take over as Castleford Tigers’ head coach for the 2024 Betfred Tremendous League season, with Danny McGuire as his assistant.
Lingard initially joined the Tigers as assistant to Andy Final, combining that position along with his place as head coach of Betfred Championship aspect Batley Bulldogs, and continued as a part of the Tigers’ teaching workers when Danny Ward changed Final in August.
The 45-year-old had been because of transfer right into a full-time assistant position with Castleford from subsequent season onwards however has now agreed a two-year contract to turn out to be head coach after Ward declined the chance to increase his keep on the Mend-A-Hose Jungle past the 2023 season regardless of steering them away from relegation.
“I’m massively honoured,” Lingard mentioned. “One thing I’ve at all times aspired to be is a head coach in Tremendous League and I’ve obtained that chance now.
“It has come just a little bit earlier than I used to be anticipating but it surely’s one thing I’ll seize with each palms and hopefully be a hit.
“I am coming in with my eyes absolutely huge open, it is not a brand new venue for me and I’ve obtained a good suggestion in regards to the workings of the membership and with quite a lot of change in personnel with individuals leaving and other people coming within the bulk of the squad which can be staying I’ve obtained expertise of working with these guys.
One thing I’ve at all times aspired to be is a head coach in Tremendous League and I’ve obtained that chance now. It has come just a little bit earlier than I used to be anticipating but it surely’s one thing I’ll seize with each palms.
New Castleford head coach Craig Lingard
“I can work a bit extra carefully with them subsequent yr and put my stamp on how I would like us to play and the values we need to convey again to Castleford Tigers to make us extra profitable than we’ve got been this season.”
Lingard moved into teaching following a 10-year taking part in profession with Batley, stepping as much as his first head teaching job within the skilled ranks with Keighley Cougars the place he was in cost from 2017 to 2019.
He returned to the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium in 2020 and guided Batley to the 2022 Championship Grand Last, the place they had been crushed by Leigh Centurions, and a slim defeat to Halifax Panthers on this yr’s 1895 Cup closing at Wembley.
Danny McGuire can be Craig Lingard’s assistant at Castleford
Leeds Rhinos nice McGuire, in the meantime, joins Lingard after leaving fellow Tremendous League aspect Hull Kingston Rovers on the finish of the 2023 season the place he had been serving as assistant to Willie Peters.
“I am actually excited in regards to the problem after a good bit of hypothesis, however for me it is about wanting ahead to working with a extremely gifted bunch of gamers and a membership with historical past and all the things that surrounds Castleford Tigers,” McGuire mentioned.
“I am nonetheless pretty early on into my teaching journey with hundreds to be taught and expertise so I am excited to be working alongside any person who’s achieved a lot within the sport so I will be selecting his brains hopefully we will gel rather well and work effectively as a mix.”
Watch each match of the 2024 Betfred Tremendous League season, together with Magic Weekend, the play-offs, and males’s, girls’s and wheelchair Grand Finals, reside on Sky Sports activities. Additionally stream on NOW.