Tigers lock in Powell

Correspondent

Castleford Tigers coach Daryl Powell has signed a new four-year deal with the club.

The new deal will keep Powell with the Tigers until 2020.

The former Leeds and Featherstone coach was part way through a five-year deal that he signed back in 2014 but both the club and Powell were more than happy to agree on a new contract after a few successful seasons.

Since taking over from Ian Millward part way through the 2013 season, Powell has worked wonders.

In his three seasons with the club, the 51-year old has taken Castleford to a Challenge Cup Grand Final and Super League finishes of 4th, 5th and 5th.

During his playing career, Powell represented England and Great Britain while he played domestic rugby in both England and Australia.

After retiring in 2001, Leeds Rhinos hired Powell as their head coach. Just two years later and with the Rhinos sat top of Super League the now Tigers coach was replaced by Tony Smith.

Powell spent time as Director of Rugby at Leeds before switching codes to coach Rugby Union side Leeds Tykes in 2005.

He returned to Rugby League in 2008 to coach Featherstone Rovers. Powell led Rovers to a Championship Grand Final win in 2011 and a famous Challenge Cup win over the Tigers in 2012.

The Castleford coach was more than happy to be staying with the club.

“Although I signed a five-year contract a few years ago there was a get out clause at the end of next season which both the club and myself wanted to get rid of,” he said.

“I believe we are on the cusp of a very special period at Castleford and I want to be right at the heart of achieving something special with the group of players we have at the club at the moment.”

“Right from the top of the club starting with Ian Fulton working all the way through the management, the coaching staff and down to the players we have special people working hard to achieve great times in Super League.

“We certainly have a lot of hard work in front of us and although some of our mentality has to change I believe we have everything in place to consistently challenge towards the top end of Super League and I’m delighted to extend my contract to hopefully play a major part in a special time in this great clubs future.”

Tigers CEO, Steve Gill said: “On behalf of Ian Fulton and the Board of Directors I am pleased to announce that our Head Coach Daryl Powell has agreed a new four year deal with the Castleford Tigers, Daryl has been very instrumental in the progress of our club in the past few years, and the reward of a new four year contract reflects the trust and belief we have in him to bring silverware back to our great club.”