Castleford Tigers have bolstered their coaching ranks once again, with a new face set to join the club in 2027.
Confirmed by owner Martin Jepson at a fans’ forum last night, the Tigers have agreed terms with Hull FC assistant Simon Grix, who will leave the MKM Stadium in a Super League switch.
It was reported earlier in the season that the 40-year-old would be joining the West Yorkshire outfit, but this is the first official communication from the club regarding the move actually happening.
Grix will join the club in the off-season, and provides another body able to help coach the players. He was contracted to the club for another season, but with the Tigers in need of coach and Steve McNamara bringing in his own staff at FC, he has been granted a premature exit.
The 164-time Super League player made his name at Halifax in 2003 and 2004, before moving to Warrington, where he stayed until the end of 2014. He re-joined the Panthers in 2016, before eventually becoming the club’s new head coach upon retirement.
Moving to Hull FC in 2024, he was made interim boss of the club following the departure of Tony Smith. Once John Cartwright arrived, he moved to the assistant boss role, and has worked closely alongside Andy Last following the Australian’s departure earlier this season.
He now moves to the Tigers, again as an assistant, though he is currently unaware who he will be reporting to, given that Castleford remain without a permanent head coach following the exit of Ryan Carr.
Grix will work alongside Luke Robinson and Scott Murrell, with Jepson saying at last night’s forum that it’s been said among rugby league circles how “Castleford’s backroom staff in 2027 is up there with the best in the league.”
Jepson believes that Grix suits Castleford’s ideal style of play given the players recruited, whilst the new head coach needs to be experienced and has respect among players within the game.
The deadline for a new boss remains at the start of pre-season, with Jepson insisting that the club will “do our homework correctly” on the new candidate.
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