Leeds Rhinos legend Danny McGuire becomes Hull KR assistant coach

Danny McGuire in action for Hull KR last year before his retiring. (Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

The former Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain half-back spent the last two years of his glittering career with the Robins before taking up a wide-ranging off-field role when he retired at the end of last season.

McGuire, 37, became head of recruitment and was also tasked with coaching the club's half-backs and working with their academy side.

However, he will now step up to join head coach Tony Smith - under whom he won Grand Finals with Leeds in 2004 and 2007 - with his main role working with the first-team.

McGuire, who replaces Willie Poching after the Kiwi's move to Wakefield Trinity, admitted: "I can’t wait.

"I was doing some coaching with the Academy and Scholars and I absolutely loved it.

"Once you’ve been in that environment on the field and then step away from it to an office I missed it; I felt like I’ve got something coaching wise to give back.

“We’ve got some really good young lads. If you look at the spine that we could have for the next five years plus – Jez Litten, Will Dagger, Rowan Milnes, Mikey Lewis – then you throw in the experience with Adam Quinlan, Matt Parcell and others, it really excites me."

Rovers have endured a tough season with just three wins from 17 games and, having been sidelined by a Covid outbreak this week, were bottom when the regular season ended early on Tuesday.

But, with new chief executive Paul Lakin also on board, McGuire remains confident about their future and will also continue in his previous role.

“I’m going to do the recruitment alongside Paul (Lakin) the new CEO, and Tony (Smith)," he said.

"I’ve still got loads to give there, I’m still going to give all I can to help with the academy as well.

“It’s been a really tough year but players have all been brilliant in the way they have handled the circumstances.

"Some of the performances have been disappointing at times. They will tell you that as well.

"It’s been a difficult year that everyone is happy to put to bed and start again.

“We want to improve, we don’t want to be languishing at the wrong end of the league.

"The standards need to improve and hopefully I can help with that in regard to the coaching side of working with the players."