Castleford Tigers boss Lee Radford talks aims, recruitment and fresh starts
AS THE work continues in readiness for the return of Castleford Tigers to pre-season training, Lee Radford is also relishing his own actual return to coaching.
He has been grafting hard in more ways than one since taking over from Daryl Powell as head coach at Wheldon Road following the end of the 2021 campaign.
For instance, with players not back in until Monday, Radford was lending a hand painting today having put in place some small but important changes to the player and coaching facilities at the West Yorkshire club.
It was no surprise; Radford has certainly never lacked work ethic, either as a player or as a coach, and he seems refreshed and ready to go again after what he calls a “two-year sabbatical.”
His long reign at Hull FC, which brought two Challenge Cup final victories, came to a sudden end when sacked in March 2020.
The Yorkshireman then cross codes to start a new life with Dallas Jackals until their 2021 launch was delayed: and it also became apparent, at the start of the year, this would be long-serving Powell’s final season in charge of Castleford.
Radford applied for the vacancy and his appointment for 2022 was confirmed in April, since when he has been busily assembling the Tigers squad.
However, he finally starts getting down to the business of coaching again next week and is looking forward to the prospect.
Clearly, Castleford have done some excellent work in the transfer market. Among the eight new arrivals are Wakefield Trinity and England loose forward Joe Westerman plus Hull wingers Bureta Faraimo and Mahe Fonua, who all worked with Radford at the Airlie Birds, as well as Australian Jake Mamo who was Warrington Wolves’ top tryscorer in 2021.
Highly-regarded England Knights forward George Lawler has arrived from Hull KR while Tigers have brought in Alex Sutcliffe and Callum McLelland from Leeds Rhinos and explosive former NRL back-row Kenny Edwards from Huddersfield Giants.
The coach has options galore: Castleford fans will all wonder what his starting 13 might be.
Radford does not know himself yet. He said: “As a coach you love pre-season for that reason.
“There’s no highs or lows of a loss or a win on a Monday; you’re just coaching, observing and seeing what everyone is putting in.
“That’s one of the beauties of pre-season. I think it has such an influence on the starting team at the start of the year, as do pre-season friendlies.
“I always like to start pre-season with an open mind with regards selection Already I’ve been to watch a couple of the lads do their off-season programme and I’ve been impressed with a few.
“They have some brownie points in already. It’s been good.”
Radford is pleased with the squad assembled, especially given he has also retained players of the quality of former Man of Steel Paul McShane, Great Britain tourist Jake Trueman and newly-capped England full-back Niall Evalds.
He said: “It is very good. In a quiet market - and I think it’s been a quiet market this time - we’ve done really well with what we’ve managed to bring in. There’s some talent there, definitely.”
Is that Castleford done now on recruitment? He said: “We are there. We are at (full salary) cap.
“I never say never but it’d have to be something really out of the box to happen.”
Castleford were beaten Challenge Cup finalists this year but did not make the play-offs.
Radford’s answer is immediate when asked for his 2022 aims.
He replied: “Top six. We haven’t done it for the last two years and top-six gives you a shout at the Grand Final.
“And the Cup? I’m not saying its’ easier to win now but there’s probably less games to play than there ever has been to get there isn’t there? Anything can happen.