Doncaster v Castleford Tigers: Ryan Carr aware Challenge Cup could set tone for new era

This time last year, rugby league fans with a penchant for a Challenge Cup upset were drawn to Castleford's tie against Bradford Bulls – and they were not disappointed.

The Tigers were outgunned by their Championship opponents on an Odsal mudbath, marking an inauspicious start to Danny McGuire's reign as head coach.

In the space of 40 miserable minutes, any optimism for the McGuire era had been washed away.

Twelve months on, the Challenge Cup has handed Castleford another potential pitfall against Championship opposition, this time in Doncaster's backyard.

Yet while the threat of an upset remains the same, the mood around the Tigers has shifted dramatically since Ryan Carr's arrival.

This time feels different but Carr knows Castleford must give their fans something tangible to cling to.

"It's an important game for us," stressed the new Tigers boss. "Belief doesn't come by talking about – you've got to do it.

"We've got to start building the belief amongst ourselves and our community. This is our first opportunity in a competitive game.

"Doncaster are really tough opposition. It's a really good game for us.

"There are positives in everything. This is the card we've been drawn and we're excited about the challenge. We've got a new group of players and every game is exciting for them."

If any team needs a strong start to the year, it is Castleford.

The Tigers have gone through five head coaches since the end of the Daryl Powell era in 2021, excluding director of rugby Chris Chester who filled in last season.

Now more than ever, Castleford need to see signs of stability and a rebuild of substance.

A heavy friendly defeat to St Helens inevitably sparked concerns among some supporters but Carr has been quick to insist it hasn't dented confidence.

"Not at all," he said.

"That was a friendly and our first hit-out together. This week is a different story – we're playing for keeps now.

"That's how we've approached it this week, rather than a game where we have a run-out. This is where the players will be judged.

"We played 30-odd players in the Saints game and made multiple changes towards the back end to give some kids an opportunity and test our depth out.

"We took a lot of positives out of it, which you don't learn when you're training amongst yourselves."

Carr heads into his first competitive game with a clear idea of his best 17, even in the absence of injured pair Semi Valemei and Zac Cini.

But the Australian has warned his players that there are no guarantees beyond Saturday.

"Nobody has a mortgage on that jersey – you've got to earn it every week," said Carr, who is set to give new signing Krystian Mapapalangi his first taste of English rugby league.

"What our best team looks like every week will be dictated by who played in that jersey the previous week, if they did their job well enough and who is available the next week."

In a competition renowned for upsets and drama, Carr will find out more about his new charges at Doncaster.

Richard Horne's team have had the benefit of three competitive hit-outs, even if they fell on the wrong side of the result against Midlands Hurricanes last week.

The Dons can point to home wins over Halifax Panthers and the resurgent Newcastle Thunder but Horne is realistic about his side's chances of claiming Castleford's scalp.

"It's a huge test for us," he said.

"There's no getting away from the fact they're a Super League team. They're a team that like to move the ball, they have good skill and some good strike players.

"There's always that extra element of them being a full-time outfit. They're probably going to be a little bit fitter and stronger so we need to manage the game well. If we do that and limit our errors to the right areas, you've always got that 'what if'."

That hope will carry Doncaster through a tie where the odds are in Castleford's favour.

There is still a sense that anything could happen in front of a bumper crowd at the Eco-Power Stadium.

"Every team looks forward to playing against a Super League team," added Horne.

"There's an opportunity to go and make a name for yourself. Hopefully we can take the opportunity we've been given and put a good show on.

"I'm looking forward to it."