Rivals Round: Coaching against your hometown club

Thursday night is set to be a thriller as Castleford Tigers play hosts to Leeds Rhinos in the highly-anticipated Rivals Round opener.

The Tigers are still searching for their first Super League win of the new season and find themselves currently rooted to the lower end of the league table, whereas Rohan Smith's Rhinos have won three from five.

And there's one man in Castleford colours, who knows all too well about the opposition his side will be facing.

Tigers' assistant head coach Danny McGuire, a former Leeds Rhinos legend, made over 400 appearances for his boyhood club - his illustrious Leeds' career spanning over two decades. He became a key figure in the Rhinos' famous Golden Generation, winning eight Super League Grand Finals, three League Leaders' Shield and two Challenge Cups, forever etching his name into the club's history.

Making the move to Hull KR in 2018, McGuire spent the final two seasons of his playing career helping the Robins to re-establish themselves in Super League, before becoming assistant head coach and interim head coach for a short period.

Rhinos fans were understandably sad to see him go but the parting was of an amicable nature, and he was wished well and thanked for his incredible services in a Leeds shirt.

However, fast forward to the end of 2023, and the news was announced that McGuire would be joining the Rhinos' fierce West Yorkshire rivals Castleford Tigers - a move that might have left many raising their eyebrows.

??? New colours for our Assistant coach!#COYF pic.twitter.com/EdxoucE9ub
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) November 9, 2023

But McGuire insists he is loving every minute at the Tigers and will have a complete change in mentality when Rivals Round comes around, as Thursday night will see the former Leeds' man help to coach Castleford Tigers against his hometown club for the first time ever…

"Life has been really good here at the Tigers - it's been a really easy transition. I've enjoyed my time here since day one, and I've enjoyed getting stuck in," McGuire said.

"There's a lot of things that need changing after a disappointing year last year, but we've got a good set of lads and Castleford have got a lot of great people working at the club wanting to work hard, change, and improve things.

"The move was unexpected, but I'm grateful for the opportunity Castleford have given me. I'm really enjoying working with Craig Lingard and Scott Murrell.

"It's a great club, it's got a lot of history and heritage and I only live a few minutes down the road.

"Lifestyle wise, everything fits for me. But I know it's a challenge, there's no getting away from that. There's a lot of things that need fixing at Castleford, but I'm trying my best to get stuck in and help."

? Danny Mcguire: Mic'd up

Enjoy Cas fans!#COYF pic.twitter.com/ZTjy8rUiRy
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) November 16, 2023

The Tigers remain winless having suffered five consecutive league defeats in the first five rounds, although they did triumph in Round 6 of the Betfred Challenge Cup against Batley Bulldogs on Saturday. And McGuire insists that their recent losses will not be down to the lack of effort or trying, and outlined some of the long-term visions for the club:

"Everyone's worked really hard in pre-season. Our results haven't gone to plan so far but there's a long way to go yet.

"We want to try and improve the standards and create a better environment for everyone. In the Daryl Powell era Cas enjoyed some success and probably didn't capitalise on this as much as they could have.

"For us, it's all about a combination of focusing on and bringing the young players through the academy and scholarship programmes - quality younger players with ambition, and then at the top end wanting to be able to attract players to Castleford who can do special things, whether this be overseas or players from around here.

"We're obviously a little bit away from that and things won't happen overnight, but I think everyone in Rugby League would agree that a strong Castleford is good for the game.

"And with the team now, we will be taking it week to week and hoping we can get some good performances and results on the back of that."

Looking ahead to Thursday's mouth-watering derby clash, the tables will turn when McGuire, who spent years having it drilled into him that the Tigers were one of their biggest Rugby League rivals, will be telling his players to treat the Rhinos as the enemy:

"It's an interesting one, because I did love playing against Castleford when I was at Leeds," McGuire admitted. "It was one of the fixtures I always looked out for when they came out.

"Near where I live there's a good mix of both Cas and Leeds fans. My young lad plays rugby and all the dads there are Cas fans, so things have definitely changed.

"I suppose I'm already a little bit used to coming up against Leeds with my time at Hull KR as well.

"I will always have care and love for my time at the Rhinos and it holds special place in my heart - but I did enjoy the competition when I played and coached against them at the Robins.

"I will always want Leeds to be successful but now I'm at the Tigers, I will have to help plot their downfall this week."

Having played in plenty of Castleford versus Leeds fixtures himself over the years, McGuire had a couple of derby memories immediately spring to mind. Indeed, the Rhinos' 2017 Super League Grand Final win over the Tigers was one of his finest memories - a season-culminating match which saw McGuire score two tries, two drop-goals and snap up the Harry Sunderland Trophy for a captivating performance.

But McGuire also recalled his many trips to the Jungle as one of his favourite memories and challenges:

"I'm not allowed to speak about 2017 around the Cas lads - it doesn't go down too well!" McGuire joked.

"But it was special - winning the Grand Final is special in its own right and I was captain in what was my last ever Leeds game.

"But honestly, I used to love going and playing at the Jungle. I used to get really excited at this away fixture and going there to a great atmosphere and all the stick I would get from the home fans. It would motivate me to play better.

"It's a traditional ground too. Of course, there are a lot of things that need changing and moving on with the times, and we hopefully have some big development plans in place where that is concerned - but the Jungle has such an exciting atmosphere.

"The challenges it poses - the smaller changing rooms, the smaller pitch and the fans being right on top of you; there's so many things as a player that can challenge you going to Cas and if you're not mentally tough enough for it, then it can affect your game.

"I used to love that challenge and getting stuck in there. Whether we won or lost on the day, I always enjoyed my time playing against Cas at the Jungle."

And McGuire admits that the feeling and thrill of a Rivals Round game never gets old, as he lets on his enthusiasm for the upcoming fixture:

"The rivals games as a player are the ones you get excited about.

"As a coach it's also the same - you wake up on the morning of these types of games and bounce out of bed probably with a bit more of a spring in your step.

"These are the games you want to be part of whether playing or coaching.

"Our preparation won't change too much, but definitely intensity wise it will step up towards the Leeds game. That's inevitable, and I'm sure it'll be the same in the Rhinos camp as well.

"But it's what happens on the field in those 80 minutes, that's the most important bit. Clubs can train all week and then not perform, so it's all about composure and not letting the occasion get to you."

Now a part of a coaching team, McGuire knows that he will need to be the one dishing out the wise words - alongside Tigers boss Craig Lingard. And although he can remember what his past coaches used to say to him in the week leading up to a local derby, he is hopeful that the playing group already understand the magnitude of the game:

"There will always be little bits of motivation flying around from coaches. But if the players cannot motivate themselves for a game where you're representing the badge on your chest or the town - or where bragging rights are at stake, then me saying things probably won't make much of a difference.

"It has to come from and within the team and individuals. We've got some very experienced players that have been there in those types of games, so I'm sure they'll be helping to rally around the troops with us and get them ready for Thursday."

With a quick look at their opposition in Rohan Smith's Rhinos, McGuire was impressed what the things he has seen and heard of so far:

"I think Leeds have started the season well. They look a more connected and committed team, and a team that are enjoying themselves and working hard for each other. All of that bodes well for a strong season for the Rhinos.

"And from our point of view we need to show that same character and we need to be a tough team to beat. We know we haven't the flashiest individuals, but we need to have a grit about us and be a tough, hard-working team that are going out there and competing.

"That's what we need to do to put in a contest week in and week out."

As the Tigers assistant looks forward to the Rivals Round occasion, could Thursday night see Castleford finally kick-start their 2024 league campaign - and will the home advantage work in their favour?

"It's always an exciting weekend over the Easter period and I think the players appreciate not having to play twice anymore - this means you can fully invest all your energy into that one big game. I think it's a great concept and I'm looking forward to watching all of the other games as well.

"We'll hopefully have a big crowd there - a really vociferous crowd making lots of noise.

"We need the Cas fans, and we know our recent performances have been tough to take for everyone involved, but hopefully for our next home game, everyone can turn up with a bit more optimism and we can do the shirt proud.

"And I don't see any reason why we can't, and hopefully the game can be a turning point for the team and the season."

Betfred Super League will return with Rivals Round (Round 6) on Thursday night with McGuire's Castleford Tigers hosting Leeds Rhinos in a West Yorkshire derby, live on Sky Sports and FREE on SuperLeague+.

All six games across Rivals Round will be broadcasted LIVE and information regarding dates, venues and kick-off times can be found here.

There's still time to sign up to SuperLeague+ if you haven't already, with match passes, monthly passes and annual passes all available.