Castleford Tigers: I won't be leaving '˜my club' Castleford insists boss Powell

“I have got a contract here until 2020,” said Powell, who is among the bookmakers’ favourites to take over from sacked Rhinos coach Brian McDermott.

“I am pretty happy and I have no intention of going anywhere else. I haven’t spoken to anybody about the Leeds job, I am just focused on what I am doing here which is really important.

“We are trying to achieve something special and hopefully [I can] take this club into the new stadium and all the special times that will bring.”

Powell played for Leeds – who are Tigers’ opponents at the Jungle on Sunday – from 1998-2000 and was coach there in 2001-2003, but insisted he does not regard Rhinos as a bigger club.

The 52-year-old has also been linked with taking over from departing Wigan boss Shaun Wane, but he said: “I don’t understand why people don’t see this as a worthy job.”

Powell has transformed Tigers’ fortunes since taking over a struggling team in 2013, guiding them to two major finals and the league leaders’ shield last year.

“This is a club that’s steeped in rugby league,” he added. “It is a special place to coach.

“If I could say the one thing I’d want to have in my coaching career it would be to do something special with Castleford Tigers, the club I supported as a kid.

“There couldn’t be a bigger job. The England job is a massive job, but this is a big job. I think one of the reasons we’ve had such a special rivalry with Wigan is because they know we’re going to come and challenge them. That’s what we stand for. I see this as an outstanding rugby league job.”

McDermott won four Grand Finals, including against Tigers last year, as well as the Challenge Cup twice, league leaders’ shield and World Club Challenge during his eight seasons as Leeds coach.

Rhinos will be without a coach for the game in two days’ time and asked if he was surprised at McDermott’s sacking, Powell said: “Yes and no.

“I was surprised because they’ve been here before and generally got out of it and done well. There’s always something within a club that nobody knows about but the inner sanctum so who knows, but my first thought was for Brian.

“You don’t want someone to lose a job.

“It’s a tough job anyway, I know that from personal experience and it will have hurt him massively.

“I just hope he’s all right and he can focus on what he’s going to do next. It will take him a bit of time, but if you look at his record it is pretty significant.

“He can be proud of what he’s done there, regardless of what’s happened in the last week or so. Eight years is a long time. Gary [Hetherington, Rhinos’ chief executive] has made his call and I think the story will be told over the coming years whether it’s right or not.”