‘Snapped his hand off’ – Castleford Tigers coach on joining ‘leader’ Danny McGuire

After joining ex-Leeds Rhinos teammate Danny McGuire at Castleford Tigers, Brett Delaney has explained his motivations why.

The duo starred for the Rhinos during their career and won plenty of silverware, including in 2017 when Leeds defeated Castleford Tigers in the Grand Final. They’d then both go into coaching with Delaney following McGuire to Hull KR.

Since McGuire’s departure from Craven Park in late 2023, Delaney further elevated his status as one of Super League’s best defensive coaches. As such, it was no surprise that the Australian got the call to join the project at the Jungle once McGuire was handed the head coach role in October, with Delaney appointed late last month.

McGuire would label Delaney as ‘the best defensive coach in Super League’ when outlining why he brought Delaney on board, and now Delaney has explained his motivations for making the move to Wheldon Road.

Having been involved in many trophy lifts in his playing career and being just 80 minutes away from that same sensation with Hull KR in 2024, it would appear that Delaney is still as motivated as ever to win silverware,

“That’s why I’m here, I want to win trophies,” he explained in a video posted to the club’s social media.

“I think every coach and every player wants to win trophies and that’s why I’m here ultimately, to win silverware.”

Castleford Tigers coach lauds praise on ‘leader’ McGuire

It’s a bold statement given the very recent history of Castleford Tigers, a team without a play-off appearance since 2019 but it shows a clear attitude shift and a mentality that fans will welcome.

Delaney, who will serve as the club’s defensive coach, continued, stating: “As a player it was awesome, so I want to do that as a coach. So yeah, I’ll be doing everything I can in my power to push the players and bring some trophies to Cas.”

He would also speak on how he came to arrive at the club, something he puts down to nearly two decades of friendship and wanting to work under someone with the leadership qualities of McGuire.

Delaney explained: “Obviously me and Magsy are best mates. We’ve known each other for a long time. I first met him in 2006 on the Gold Coast so we go way back.

“I won trophies win him as a player and I’ve also coached with him over at KR. He’s a leader. He’s a great coach. You can see what he’s done as a player and he’ll translate that to coaching so the dynamic of it is awesome.

“When the opportunity popped up for me to join him, I pretty much snapped his hand off because I believe in his qualities, like I said, he’s a leader on and off the pitch.”

McGuire and Delaney will take Castleford Tigers back to their recent stomping ground of Craven Park in Round One of the new Super League season, before doing battle at Headingley against their former club Leeds Rhinos in Round Three. The first home game of the new era sees them host St Helens in Round Two, locking in a tough first three fixtures.