Danny McGuire makes bold claim about new Castleford Tigers man

Castleford Tigers head coach Danny McGuire has labelled Brett Delaney the ‘best defensive coach in Super League’. McGuire takes his Tigers into the second week of pre-season today as the former Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR man prepares to make his head coach bow at Wheldon Road.

He has been joined in the coaching ranks at Castleford by Delaney, who made the switch from Hull KR shortly after the head coach’s appointment last month. Delaney worked as an assistant at Craven Park but took charge of the club’s defence under Willie Peters and played a key role in helping the Robins to last season’s Super League Grand Final.

His capture is seen as something as a coup for Castleford then and having worked with him in east Hull, McGuire knows just how much he can add to the Tigers’ ranks.

“He’s going to bring a hell of a lot to the team, ” McGuire said in a video posted on Castleford Tigers’ X page. “He’s a no-nonsense coach. In my opinion, he’s the best defensive coach in the competition and you’ll have to look at the results of Hull KR over the last couple of years to see what Brett’s brought there.

“Obviously, he’s one of my best pals as well so that trust and that loyalty that Brett showed when we played together, we’ve got that now as coaches. We’ve also got Scott Murrell there as well who’s a good friend and a really good young coach.

“I think we’ve got a fantastic mix there with the staff. It’s really good and really enjoyable to come into work and we’re all pushing each other.”

On his own principles as a coach, McGuire added: “I like my players to express themselves. I like my players to play with freedom and trust their ability and trust that they can pull off the plays but that’s got to be built on the back of the hard work and the effort and an appreciation of defence.

“I think at times last year we were a little bit too easy to be scored against so we’ve got to understand that defence is more important than attack. The attack comes on the back of being gritty and being tough defensively.

“Our pre-season so far has been based on defensive elements of the game and obviously Brett Delaney is going to be heading up that. He’s done a fantastic job for it.”