Castleford Tigers have announced the appointment of former Leeds Rhinos star and London Broncos boss Danny Ward as Head Coach as he comes in to replace former Hull FC man Andy Last.
Ward’s first game will be a huge game against Wakefield Trinity which could be a do or die clash with the clubs only separated by points difference at the bottom of Super League.
Ward has twice been relegated by Wakefield. In 2006 as a Castleford player and in 2019 with London Broncos in a huge final game of the season.
In his playing days, Ward began his Super League career with Leeds, featuring in their 2004 Super League Grand Final victory and in the Rhinos’ World Club Challenge success in 2005.
A move to the Tigers followed in 2006, with a highlight of his year at Wheldon Road coming against Leeds where he raced clear from halfway to score a memorable try.
Ward also featured for Hull KR and Harlequins before moving into coaching with the London club, firstly as academy coach in 2014. The 43-year-old was then named assistant the following year and was promoted to head coach of the Broncos ahead of the 2018 season.
London tasted success under Ward that year, going all the way to the Million Pound Game and achieved promotion by edging out Toronto Wolfpack by 4 points to 2.
It is a big appointment for the Tigers, but will it pay off?
Here’s what the fans think.
One fan implored him to act fast and save the club.
Welcome home Danny – now get them back in training for next week and save us 🤞🏻🤞🏻 #coyf
— Claire Robertson (@Claire281984) August 9, 2023
“Please save us” was the request of one fan.
Please save us
— Matthew 🍻 (@matthewxsutton) August 9, 2023
Though almost every Castleford fan was delighted with the appointment there was a sense of unhappiness.
This is because they believed that the appointment was too late and should have happened after Lee Radford’s exit and some even said it should have happened 18 months ago.
18 months too late
— Brad (@___BJA) August 9, 2023
This was a common criticism and it will be one that is revisited should Castleford lose Ward’s first game in charge and fall to the bottom of the league.
This is greaaaaat BUT…. Where’s the acknowledgment that this is a decision that should have been done months ago for all the reasons above and you Mr Wilson got the last decision completely wrong by backing your friend and keeping the existing poor system going on?
— Sean Betts (@seanbetts1) August 9, 2023
However, some Tigers fans encouraged their peers to get behind Ward as they hope to avoid relegation in a huge year for the sport on the cusp of IMG’s revolution.
Right then , let's get behind Danny and hope he can keep us up .
— HAIGHY (@Haigh12K) August 9, 2023
One fan simply said “don’t be sh*t” in one of the more simplistic comments about the appointment.
Welcome Danny! Don't be shit https://t.co/2GTp8F0jPo
— Offbeat RL (@BizarreRl) August 9, 2023
Many Castleford fans really got behind Ward as he is tasked with keeping the Tigers in the club.
Now this feels like an appointment we can all get behind. Go well Danny. https://t.co/mX12qP40FU
— Callum Land (@CallumLand) August 9, 2023
It was described as “a near impossible task” by one fan though who believes Craig Lingard will be head coach in 2024. He remains at the club despite the appointment.
The man with the near impossible task, with them bringing in an assistant till end of season aswell, any possibility we might be looking to have lingard as head coach next year? https://t.co/zblMhKqcvs
— Matthew 🍻 (@matthewxsutton) August 9, 2023
Though the comment “too late” kept showing up.
5 months too late.
Let's hope he has enough time. https://t.co/eSYUDJTjdY
— No Context Cas (@NoContextTigers) August 9, 2023
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