Luke Robinson makes Castleford Tigers intentions clear amid head coach speculation
Luke Robinson has ruled himself out of the running for the Castleford Tigers job after confirming he has signed a long-term contract as an assistant coach.
The former Huddersfield Giants head coach recently joined the Tigers at a time when their coaching ranks were depleted, fuelling speculation that he could be the man to replace Ryan Carr.
However, he insists he is happy to assist the next boss after rediscovering the essence of coaching.
Asked whether he held any interest in becoming Carr's successor, Robinson replied: "No. That's a personal decision as well.
"I'll aid the club as much as I can, if they want my advice or anything else, but I'm here as an assistant coach.
"Me and the club are in mutual agreement with that. Both sides are really comfortable with it.
"It was about getting back into coaching and doing what I love. That's the coaching – not the bureaucracy of dealing with people above you.
"I'm really excited about the vision Dean (Jones) and the owner (Martin Jepson) gave me."
Robinson is effectively filling in as interim head coach after confirming that he has selected the team for Friday's home clash with Catalans Dragons.
The club are expecting a packed house for their centenary fixture, while Robinson has his own reasons for cherishing a return to Wheldon Road.
"My mother-in-law is a Cas fan," he said.
"The first game she ever watched me play, I was on loan at Castleford. Even though I spent all those years at Huddersfield, she's always been a Cas fan so she was ecstatic that I got the opportunity to return to the club. My family are really, really looking forward to being part of it.
"When you played at Cas, it didn't matter whether they were near the bottom of the league or riding high, you knew the fans were going to be vocal and like an extra man. You just knew you were going to have a really, really tough time.
"It's been a bit of a fortress for them over the years and hopefully we can get back to that, where we give them something to shout about and play some attractive rugby.
"I know it's tough at the moment. From an outside perspective, it probably looks all doom and gloom but I think there's a fair bit of light at the end of the tunnel."
The move to Castleford marked Robinson's return to the sport following his sacking by Huddersfield in March.
Robinson remains unhappy about the circumstances of his departure but is choosing not to air his grievances publicly.
"Rugby league is a professional sport and it's the way it goes," he said.
"There are some things I'm really aggrieved about and that I disagree with but it's the honourable thing to do to hold my cards close to my chest.
"I'll always have a place in my heart for Huddersfield as a club."