There has been plenty of change at Castleford Tigers since the start of last season from head coaches, owners and personnel and now new head coach Craig Lingard has named new co-captains for the upcoming Super League season.
Lingard had been appointed as the assistant head coach to Andy Last midway through the 2023 season, however following Last’s dismissal and interim manager Danny Ward’s refusal to take the job full time it meant the club hired Lingard as their new head coach.
He’s been joined by ex-Leeds Rhinos playing legend and former Hull KR assistant coach Danny McGuire, with the club aiming for a bounce back season following last year’s relegation scrap with rivals Wakefield Trinity.
Ultimately the Tigers survived by four points, their two wins against Trinity being crucial, however it was clear that improvement and change was needed.
As such Lingard has put his own stamp on the team bringing in players such as Leeds Rhinos full-back Luke Hooley, Lingard having coached Hooley at Batley previously.
He’s now also named his captains for the 2024 season, opting for co-captains in the form of Paul McShane and Joe Westerman who are two of the team’s most senior players.
In a video shared to the club’s Facebook page Lingard can be seen addressing the squad and explaining the decision behind the choice of skippers.
He explains: “I’ve looked all the way through pre-season, looking for people who are standing up to be counted for and I think it’s the right time coming into the friendly on Sunday that we announce our captains for the season.”
The Tigers are set to face Keighley Cougars in what will be ex-Tiger Jake Webster’s testimonial match, the game having been delayed a year after the weather caused the game to be abandoned in 2023.
Lingard continued, confirming the decision to select co-captains: “It will be slightly different, we’re not going to do captain and vice captain, we’re going to do joint captains.
“I think these are two blokes who know what it means to play for Castleford, they’ve been here a long time and the values they have. They’ve ;ed by example through pre-season so your joint captains this year are Macca and Westy.”
The announcement by Lingard was met with applause from the onlooking squad of players, the appointment of two senior figures clearly being a p[popular decision.
McShane had skippered the side for the past two years but is now joined in the role by Westerman who was one of the club’s standout players last season, even captaining them during one of those crucial victories over Wakefield Trinity in the absence of McShane.
The full video showing the speeches can be seen below.
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