Castleford Tigers captain confirmed as Danny McGuire opts for surprise name

Danny McGuire has announced the leadership group at Castleford Tigers for the 2025 season with a surprise name handed the captaincy.

McGuire, who has ascended from the role of assistant coach to head coach, has taken the approach to have a senior leaders group, two vice-captains and then a captain as well.

In total, it means that six men in the Tigers squad will have some form of official role as the club look to replace long-time leader and 2024 co-captain Paul McShane who has moved onto the Championship.

McShane held the co-captaincy with Joe Westerman in 2024 and the forward has now been appointed to the ‘senior leaders team’ alongside George Griffin and Liam Watts, with the trio aged 35, 32 and 34 respectively. Between them, they boast 915 games of Super League experience making them apt choices for a ‘senior leaders team’.

Alex Mellor (30) and George Lawler (29) have been appointed as the vice-captains, whilst second-year Cas player Sam Wood, 27, has been handed the armband.

Sam Wood confirmed as Castleford Tigers captain

Wood only moved to the Jungle ahead of the 2024 season and saw his season cut short through injury but impressed whilst he was on the field.

He impressed so much so that Shaun Wane handed him a first-ever England call-up, however, that dream turned into a nightmare as it marked the game in which he suffered his season-ending injury.

The former Hull KR man will be hoping to bounce back in 2025 but this time he’ll be donning the armband, an honour that Danny McGuire has bestowed upon him.

A statement confirmed the appointments and revealed what the new Cas boss had said when announcing his captain.

McGuire stated:  “Being a captain, having that responsibility is a huge accolade, the history and prestige of this club and what this club means to all of us as a team, and everyone in Castleford and the wider community makes it a huge, huge honour. And my choice of captain this year is Sam Wood.”

Reacting, Wood said: “To be given the captaincy in the second year and to be able to lead you boys around the field and making sure I am approachable and a voice for you boys.

“I think if we put the team first and have that mentality we won’t go far wrong because we are building a good foundation this year. Everyone is working their socks off, everyone’s buying in, we are all brought in together. We’ve been working hard together and that team first mentality, will take us somewhere this year boys, I guarantee it.”