Features

“Like Kylie Minogue divorcing you and Kylie Leuluai replacing her” – How social media reacted to the news that Lee Radford will be the new Castleford boss from 2022

by
Callum Walker
April 27, 2021

One of Super League’s worst kept secrets has finally been let out of the bag with Lee Radford appointed as the new Castleford boss from 2022. But, just how have people reacted?

One Castleford fan certainly didn’t hold back.

Honestly, Lee Radford following Daryl Powell as a coach is like Kylie Minogue divorcing you and Kylie Leuluai replacing her.

I think Hull won 2 cups despite him and thanks to Pearson's cash. The Cas board must be looking at new and innovative ways to turn fans away.

Disaster.

— Jonny Hughes (@GoProJonny) April 20, 2021

And, he wasn’t alone in voicing a negative opinion, with one fan bemoaning the style of play that the Tigers could find themselves playing under Radford.

So Radford is the new coach of Castleford Tigers. I look forward to our new philosophy of playing for penalties in every play.

— Simon Sherburn (@nogis) April 27, 2021

However, the majority of Tigers fans seemed willing to give the two-time Challenge Cup winner a chance.

Quite reassuring listening to Paul Cooke on @RugbyLeagueLiv2.

Made Radford sound like the Bielsa of rugby league, studying all games and having contacts at all levels of the game, watching games from PNG etc. Also painting the training ground himself.

— Mark F (@Pleyndamour) April 27, 2021

Former Castleford chief executive Steve Gill has also been full of praise for the new Tigers boss.

Good luck to Lee Radford @CTRLFC good bloke who deserves the support of the Tigers faithful #gotigers

— Steven Gill (@StevenG72629899) April 27, 2021

One fan even highlighted the area in which Radford could do better than Daryl Powell.

One thing I'd like to hear from Radford is his plans with the youth of Castleford. I think we can all get on board with that. Is Radford the man to turn the likes of Brad Martin, Brad Graham & Lewis Peachey into a starting player. We can all agree it's one area DP lacked in.

— Mike Preston (@MikePreston92) April 27, 2021

Though one Twitter page couldn’t resist bringing up Radford’s past feud with Castleford star Liam Watts.

Lee Radford, speaking in 2018, about Liam Watts acrimonious departure from Hull FC:

"We felt it was in our best interests to let him go. It was a discipline issue and wasn’t for football purposes."

An interesting reunion at Castleford next year! pic.twitter.com/WDH9CCuljO

— The Tryline 🏉 (@TrylineUK) April 27, 2021

York City Knights’ media manager was particularly happy with the appointment, as it meant that incumbent York boss James Ford would not be leaving.