Castleford Tigers interim coach Chris Chester has spoken on the club’s vision for the future and the process of hiring a new head coach, including how long he expects that process to take.
In their first game since the shock sacking of Danny McGuire, the Tigers lost 26-22 to Salford Red Devils in what is a new season low for Castleford.
Chester spoke post-match to Sky Sports and removed any suggestion that McGuire’s sacking had impacted the performance, explaining that the players had trained well after the news.
Regardless of good training, the Tigers weren’t at it on Sunday afternoon and they became just the second side to lose to Salford this year as a result of that.
Having bemoaned his side’s performance, Chester looked ahead to what comes next as he explained the plans for the remainder of the season and 2026.
He explained: “I think it’s just giving some opportunities to the players that are going to be here next year. I want to see young Jenson Windley and people like that that have been chomping at the bit. We’ve just got to plan for next year.”
Castleford Tigers interim coach gives verdict on new head coach
Currently, Windley is on a season-long loan with Sheffield Eagles but Chester’s comments seem to indicate that could change with the teenager possibly set for a recall.
Depending on if or when that recall happens, it may or may not be Chester in charge of the coaching side of things with the hunt for a new head coach already underway.
With around 20 applicants from both the UK and Down Under, the process may take a while and Chester admitted that, however, he maintained that he doesn’t want to be in the interim coach role forever.
“I don’t want to be sat here in the next six to eight weeks and saying the same things,” he explained.
“We’ve got to be better. Like I said, we’ve got to make sure we bring the right coach in and the right players.
“We’ll just have to wait and see. We can’t rush into making those kind of decisions.”
When pushed on that comment around ‘six to eight weeks’ and whether that meant the club hope for a quick appointment, Chester clarified: “We’ve got some really, really good, strong applicants and we’ll take our time with it. I don’t want to be in the hot seat for the rest of the year. We’ll have to see what unfolds over the next few weeks.”
Owner Martin Jepson had spoken to Sky Sports at half-time to explain that there was no major rush but that any new head coach must be appointed in time for pre-season.
Full time.
We fall to defeat over in Salford. pic.twitter.com/2acRYdGS3q
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) July 13, 2025
