7 years on… Powell joins Cas

Daryl, then 47, made a WF postcode switch from neighbours Featherstone Rovers to take over at the Tigers on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He was unveiled at a press conference at The Mend-a-Hose Jungle and immediately spoke about the pride he had at taking up the position as our Head Coach.

“I’ve been proud to coach all the teams I’ve been at, but this is a special moment,” he said to the assembled press.

“I actually went to school in Castleford and was a Castleford fan as a young man, I played amateur rugby at Glasshoughton and then Red Hill and lived in Glasshoughton for years so I’m a Cas lad in lots of ways.

“Ideal job for me, a fantastic opportunity and I’m massively looking forward to the challenge that’s in front of me.”

Cutting his coaching teeth further in the Championship, Daryl was returning to managing a team in the top-flight having previously taken charge of Leeds Rhinos in the early 2000s. During his time with Featherstone he led the Rovers to three consecutive League Leaders Shields in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and won the Championship Grand Final in 2011.

“I got the Head Coach’s role at Leeds probably a little too early and since then my apprenticeship has been a fantastic one and I’ve been through all sorts of different experiences that give you the skills set to able to do a Head Coach’s role in Super League. I never feared anything I just got on with what I was doing.

Daryl also famously led Fev to a memorable Challenge Cup fourth round victory over Cas in 2012, he was clearly a rugby league coach on the rise and decided to leave Featherstone despite them sitting second the Championship table at that time.

“I’ve enjoyed every coaching job I’ve had there’s been different challenges along the way, and this is another one.

“I want to build the club and I want to be involved from the top to the bottom.”

The challenge he was taking on at the time was to bring the Tigers away from the relegation battle they looked to be facing heading into May 2013.

Fast forward to now and that seems a lifetime ago with the club fighting to win the Super League and finishing in the play-off positions consistently. Daryl has been a key element in turning around the club’s fortunes and as such is held in high regard by many supporters, ex-players and fellow coaches alike.