Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos: Pride in the shirt vital, says Danny McGuire

LEEDS RHINOS captain Danny McGuire has demanded his side finally deliver an 80-minute performance against Castleford Tigers tonight '“ or their wretched record will continue.
Danny McGuire breaks forward during June's encounter against 
LCastleford Tigers. Picture: Bruce RollinsonDanny McGuire breaks forward during June's encounter against 
LCastleford Tigers. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Danny McGuire breaks forward during June's encounter against LCastleford Tigers. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

If they can prosper against the runaway leaders, second place and a home semi-final will be confirmed.

However, Leeds have lost their last seven matches against their revitalised derby rivals despite, at times, threatening to bring a halt to that dismal sequence.

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“I think we’ve played well against them for about 60 minutes this year in three games,” McGuire explained.

“We have had a couple of decent halves or 30-minute stints – at the Magic Weekend and in the home game – but we haven’t put a full-80 in against them and really taken it to the wire.

“That’s what Cas have been very good at this year; they have been really clinical. I think it is really important for us – especially for the next month and what we have got in front of us – that we go there and play well.”

McGuire hopes to sign off his remarkable Headingley career as a Grand Final winner again before joining Hull KR in 2018, but knows Castleford are the biggest threat to ruining that dream.

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Even though they are already secure of first place, the ex-England stand-off does not feel they will ease up this evening especially given how well he knows their coach Daryl Powell, once McGuire’s boss at Rhinos.

“Daryl will be heavily-motivated having played and coached with us and it is a local derby,” said McGuire.

“Their fans are passionate and I have never seen as many Cas shirts around near where I live.

“They are rightly proud. We have got to make sure we go there and wear our shirt with pride and put in a good performance.”