Castleford Tigers name Danny Ward and Dane Dorahy as new coaching team
Crisis-torn Castleford have turned to ex-London boss Danny Ward to try and save their Super League status.
The former Leeds and Great Britain prop, 43, has been given a deal until the end of the season - essentially just SIX games. But they are six huge fixtures as Cas, who sacked Andy Last after they slipped to bottom on Friday, strive to avoid the drop. Ward, who played for Tigers in 2006 when they did endure relegation, admitted: “I am buzzing, proud and looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s exciting and I can’t wait to get started. I’ve always wanted to get back coaching at the top level and I back myself to do that level as well. I’m thankful to Cas for giving me that opportunity to coach back in Super League and I’m hoping I can do a good job in a short space of time. To the fans, I’d say stick with the boys and get behind us and we’ll put in some performances that will do you proud.”
Whether Ward remains in 2024 could depend on what division troubled Castleford - who have won just four games all season and are on their third coach after firing Lee Radford in March - are playing in. They are level on points with derby rivals Wakefield who they visit in a massive contest next Friday for Ward’s first game in charge. Yorksireman Ward helped London earn promotion in 2018 and earned plenty of plaudits after they picked up ten Super League wins only to agonisingly go down on points difference.
One of Wayne Bennett’s Great Britain assistants in 2019, Ward has been working in rugby union since leaving London two years ago. Castleford have appointed Aussie Dane Dorahy as his No2 although current assistants Craig Lingard and Scott Murrell will also remain at Wheldon Road. Castleford’s director of rugby operations Danny Wilson said: “We started the process of having to appoint a new coach and we consulted the playing group and asked them what they felt they needed.
Gay rugby league referee lifts lid on how coming out affected officiating career
Ex-London Broncos boss Danny Ward (PA)“Immediately we thought that Danny Ward was someone who fitted the bill and we made contact. There was also a need to bring some fresh ideas in as well. We’ve been wanting to bring in talented young players into the system and it’s the same with coaches as well. Danny is still young with experience at Super League level, and we wanted to bring in another new coach with new ideas.
"We looked overseas to see who the young talented coaches are within the NRL system and Dane’s name came up. We started a process to look at that and his coaching background which was very exciting to us. I think it shows our intent to stay in Super League to bring not just a coach of the calibre of Danny Ward in but to also bring in an assistant who is up and coming to compliment the great work that Craig Lingard and Scott Murrell are already doing. We’ve boxed it off now and we can really move forward and kick on for the last six games of the season.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
