Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants must hold nerve after going down untested route - James O'Brien comment

Wigan Warriors are facing up to their trophy defence being over after succumbing to a remarkable fightback by Hull FC in round four.

The early exit will sting the Warriors, a club that have known nothing but success in recent times.

It has been five long years since fallen giants Leeds Rhinos last got their hands on silverware or even reached the quarter-finals of the cup.

While the draws have not been kind to the Rhinos, better is expected of one of the most successful clubs of the summer era.

For Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants – the two other Super League sides that exited the cup early – there are no surprises, only a stark reminder of the reality both clubs face.

The West Yorkshire sides were tipped to struggle and their seasons are going to script.

As well as falling in the early stages of the Challenge Cup – in Castleford's case at the first hurdle – they have won just one Super League fixture between them.

The Tigers and the Giants are only separated by Salford Red Devils, a club that have struggled to field a team in 2025.

With little in the way of tangible positives, the two sets of supporters will rightly feel frustrated.

Castleford and Huddersfield have shown they can compete at the top of Super League in the recent past but neither club had a sustainable model.

The result is two clubs essentially rebuilding from the ground up under rookie head coaches.

Having gone down that route, the two clubs must hold their nerve and back their long-term strategies.

The Tigers put their faith in Danny McGuire after sensing an opportunity to kick on.

Castleford exceeded expectations under Craig Lingard last year, finishing 10th with an inexperienced squad assembled on a modest budget.

The Wheldon Road club were working to a three-year plan but veered off course after Martin Jepson struck a takeover deal.

He made an early statement by replacing Lingard with McGuire, a decision that showcased his boldness and ruthless approach.

It represented a gamble, one that was never going to pay off in the space of six rounds of a Super League season.

McGuire not only needs time but also the necessary resources and support to get the Tigers moving in the right direction.

Simply put, Castleford's recruitment has left a lot to be desired in recent years.

While convincing players to ignore other offers in favour of a move to Wheldon Road is a challenge, the Tigers need to pull one or two statement signings out of the bag to change the narrative.

Hull are an example of how quickly a bleak situation can change with the right recruitment approach.

As McGuire admitted himself last week, Castleford may have to rip it up and start again after going down the young and unproven route in recent cycles.

Huddersfield recruited experience in the off-season and made a decent fist of their squad improvements all things considered.

However, Luke Robinson has been hamstrung by injuries from the very start of the year.

All of the Giants' new signings have missed periods through injury, with Zac Woolford and George King among those on the long-term casualty list.

When injuries strike before a ball is even kicked in anger, the season usually only goes one way.

Robinson has been without key spine members in the early part of the year and it has shown in Huddersfield's performances.

Excuses quickly wear thin but Robinson is right to point out that even the best teams struggle without their most influential players.

That being said, coaching is an unforgiving business and Robinson must find a way of getting results until the situation eases.

It is hard to make a case for either side to put a run together and climb the table, although it took the Tigers seven rounds to get off the mark last year and they went on to enjoy a stronger season than most expected.

The focus now must be on ensuring they are not in this situation again this time next year. For Castleford, that means recruiting higher-calibre personnel; for Huddersfield, it is about a change of fortune and mindset.

One thing is certain: changing coaches just months into a project would only set them back further.

McGuire and Robinson were never going to enjoy immediate success and that notion would not have been lost on either club.

Both clubs need to embrace the reality that rebuilding is a gradual process, not an overnight fix.

The Tigers and the Giants must resist the temptation for knee-jerk reactions in an age where patience is in short supply.

It is about playing the long game, sticking with the plan and trusting that, in time, the foundations they are building will bear fruit.

For now, both clubs must prove they have the fortitude to see it through.