Castleford have confirmed that Ryan Carr will become the club’s head coach starting in the 2026 Super League season, replacing Danny McGuire, who departed earlier this year.
Castleford Tigers have turned to Ryan Carr to spearhead their next phase, with the Australian coach set to take charge from 2026. Carr arrives with experience across both hemispheres, most recently serving as assistant coach at St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL. He also has previous English experience after a strong stint in the Featherstone Rovers hot seat in 2019.
Who is Ryan Carr?
Carr, 37, has crafted a well-rounded CV across development and first-grade environments. After assistant roles in Australia, he crossed to the UK in 2019 and guided Featherstone Rovers to an eye-catching campaign in the Championship. Back in the NRL, he stepped up as interim head coach of the Dragons in 2023, returning 3 wins from 14 matches during a turbulent period at the club before resuming as an assistant.
Why Castleford and why now?
Castleford’s search for a long-term leader followed the exit of Danny McGuire earlier this year. The Tigers wanted a coach with fresh ideas, a development mindset and an understanding of both the British game and NRL systems. Carr ticks those boxes: he knows the Championship and Super League landscape from his time at Featherstone and brings current NRL insights from the Dragons set-up.
What Carr brings to the Tigers
- Tactical flexibility: Carr has worked under multiple coaching philosophies in the NRL and has shown a willingness to adapt to the strengths of his roster.
- Player development focus: Track record of promoting youth and sharpening squad depth, a key need as Castleford refreshes its core.
- UK experience: Prior exposure to English conditions, travel, and schedule demands from his Featherstone year.
- Culture building: Reputation as a detail-driven communicator who can align staff and players around clear standards.
The McGuire context
McGuire’s departure left Castleford at a crossroads. By appointing Carr with a clear runway to 2026, the Tigers can make recruitment and retention decisions with the new coaching approach in mind, rather than firefighting week to week. That transition time should help the club shape pre-season planning, support staff structures, and pathways alignment ahead of his first campaign.
What to watch between now and 2026
- Staffing: Expect clarity around Carr’s assistants and performance staff as 2025 winds down.
- Recruitment & retention: Moves that fit Carr’s style—mobile middles, high-effort edges, versatile backs—would hint at tactical direction.
- Pathways: How Cas integrates academy and fringe players will be an early signal of Carr’s development emphasis.
- Identity: Whether the Tigers pursue tempo and ball movement or a more territory-first blueprint will emerge through pre-season trials and early 2026 rounds.
Quick facts: Ryan Carr
- Current role: Assistant coach, St George Illawarra Dragons (NRL)
- UK experience: Head coach, Featherstone Rovers (2019)
- NRL interim stint: St George Illawarra Dragons interim coach (2023) — 3 wins from 14
- Castleford role: Head coach from the 2026 season for 3 seasons
- Replaces: Danny McGuire (departed earlier this year)
