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Castleford Tigers part company with coach Ian Millward

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Super League strugglers Castleford part company with coach Millward after seven successive defeats

By
Aidan Mccartney

PUBLISHED:

18:04 GMT, 9 April 2013

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UPDATED:

23:16 GMT, 9 April 2013

Castleford Tigers have parted company with head coach Ian Millward following a miserable run of form that sees them languishing at the bottom of Super League.

The 52-year-old Australian has paid the price for the Tigers poor run which has personally seen him collect only seven victories in his 38 Super League games in charge.

Millward's assistant Stuart Donlan has also left the club and Tigers legend Danny Orr, who joined the coaching staff in the summer, will now take charge for their match against Widnes on Saturday.

Dreadful run: Millward (pictured)has overseen just one victory in the last 18 games at the West Yorkshire side

Dreadful run: Millward (pictured) has overseen just one victory in the last 18 games at the West Yorkshire outfit

Castleford lost 24-44 to Huddersfield Giants on Saturday to leave the club rock bottom of Super League with just one win and one draw from their 11 matches.

Former Wakefield Wildcats coach John Kear, who is currently in charge of Championship side Batley and ex-Hull KR coach Justin Morgan are among the names who have been linked with the role.

Temporary charge: Danny Orr spent seven of his 16 year playing career with the Tigers

Temporary charge: Danny Orr spent seven of his 16 year playing career with the Tigers

A statement on the club's official site said: 'Following a meeting with Ian Millward, both parties agreed that he should relinquish his position as head coach,'

'After a promising start to the 2013 season, recent results have been unacceptable for all concerned, including sponsors and supporters.'

Millward had been appointed in 2011 to succeed Terry Matterson at Wheldon Road but after narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon last year, the club have decided to act after a poor set of results this term.

Although still early in the season, 2013 has been a turbulent one for the West Yorkshire club after Chief Executive Steve Ferres walked out of his job after only seven months due to differences of opinion with the board of directors.

His shock resignation was soon followed by commercial manager Nick Fozzard to leave the Tigers in disarray.

Head of youth development Steve Gill was appointed as CEO to steady the ship on an interim role in March but was given on the position on a permanent basis earlier this week.

His first task will now be to find a successor for Millward as the Tigers look to save their season.

Castleford 26 Catalan Dragons 46

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Castleford 26 Catalan Dragons 46: Tigers suffer sixth successive defeat

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UPDATED:

16:45 GMT, 2 September 2012

Ryan Hudson, Nick Youngquest and Stuart Jones all scored tries on their farewell home appearances for Castleford but it was not enough to prevent their team going down to a sixth successive Super League defeat.

Tigers captain Danny Orr, another man playing his last match at the Probiz Coliseum as he edges closer to retirement, also got on the scoresheet with three goals but the Catalan Dragons were in no mood for sentiment as they cruised to victory.

Full-back Clint Greenshields and winger Damien Blanch both scored hat-tricks as the French side secured their first away win for two months to reclaim fourth place in the table, while the Tigers are in serious danger of collecting the wooden spoon in coach Ian Millward's first season.

Rugby League

Trailing 40-12 after an hour, Castleford rallied to score three tries in the final quarter to add respectability to the scoreline.

There was also an impressive performance from reigning Man of Steel Rangi Chase on only his second appearance in almost three months while hooker Daryl Clark showed some nice touches on his comeback after spending more than three months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

But the Catalans, who gave a debut to forward Antoni Maria, always looked a class apart, despite the absence of the injured Leon Pryce.

It looked so easy for the visitors from the moment second rower Setaimata Sa put centre Vincent Duport through a yawning gap in the Castleford defence for the opening try after seven minutes.

The Dragons then demonstrated their counter-attacking brilliance when second rower Louis Anderson picked up a loose ball 20 metres from his own line and combined with Daryl Millard, Greenshields and Scott Dureau to get Blanch over in the other corner for his first try.

Hudson kept the Tigers in touch when he won the race to Orr's grubber kick and Jones took Chase's pass to stretch out for a try but the visitors were always in control.

Castleford's cause was not helped when scrum-half Jamie Ellis went off with an arm injury midway through the first half and their suspect defence cracked three more times more before the break.

Dureau picked out Sa with a pinpoint kick, Greenshields raced over for his first and Blanch shrugged off Lee Mitchell's weak tackle to grab his second try on the stroke of half-time.

Greenshields then scored his second try, courtesy of an inside pass from Bosc, nine minutes into the second half and he completed his hat-trick six minutes later after supporting a break from Duport.

With Dureau taking his goal tally to six from seven attempts to make it 40-12, Castleford were staring at a heavy defeat but they were in no mood to roll over.

Orr and Hudson combined to get Youngquest over at the corner before a superb pass by Chase created a try for Grant Millington, who then turned provider for full-back Richard Owen to score the Tigers' fifth try four minutes from the end.

Orr failed with his last two conversion attempt and the Catalans had the final say when Blanch sprinted down the touchline to complete his hat-trick and Dureau kicked his seventh goal.

Wigan 40 Castleford 16: Lauaki at the double against patched-up Tigers

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Wigan 40 Castleford 16: Lauaki off the mark for Warriors against patched-up Tigers

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UPDATED:

21:50 GMT, 27 July 2012

Tongan powerhouse Epalahame Lauaki was
Wigan's unlikely hero with his first tries for the club as the Stobart
Super League leaders opened up a five-point gap on second-placed
Warrington with a comfortable win over a depleted Castleford.

Lauaki had managed just one try in 27
Super League appearances for Hull in 2011 but he romped over for his
first for Wigan – on his 23rd appearance – after only four minutes and
two minutes later doubled his tally to give his side a dream start.

Sam Tomkins of Wigan Warriors gets past Grant Millington (L) and Jordan Thompson (R) of Castleford Tigers

Sam Tomkins of Wigan Warriors gets past Grant Millington (L) and Jordan Thompson (R) of Castleford Tigers

Winger Iain Thornley then marked his debut with a third try to put Wigan 16-0 up inside 10 minutes but they were made to work for the rest of their tries by a patched-up Tigers side hit by the withdrawal of three players on the day of the game.

The Warriors, who had scrum-half Matty Smith making his home debut, produced a mixed show on their first appearance at the DW Stadium since crashing out of the Challenge Cup and succumbing at home to Bradford in Super League.

They lost centre Darrell Goulding to injury in the first half and also lost their way after establishing that early cushion.

Castleford coach Ian Millward was forced to field a patched-up side after losing his new half-back pair of Jamie Ellis and Rangi Chase, with forwards Stuart Jones and Oliver Holmes filling in at centre and stand-off respectively.

They looked in danger of being over-run after Wigan's early scoring burst but went on to play their part in an entertaining encounter.

The impressive Thornley twice got away down the wing but demonstrated his inexperience by failing to make the most of the opportunities and the visitors took advantage of the let-offs.

The game was held up for 10 minutes so that Goulding could have treatment on the pitch following a head collision before being carried off on a stretcher and it seemed to distract Wigan for a time.

Castleford pulled a try back three minutes before the break when winger Rhys Williams was put into space by Jordan Thompson and wrong-footed Sam Tomkins.

Nick Youngquest added the conversion but there was just time for Wigan to score a fourth try through makeshift centre Liam Farrell after they had kept the ball alive following the sounding of the half-time hooter.

The Tigers battled their way to another try early in the second half when Holmes got the first touch to Ryan Hudson's grubber kick to the line and Youngquest's second goal cut the gap to just eight points.

But Wigan's evergreen centre George Carmont produced a strong finish to claim his side's fifth try on 57 minutes and Tomkins took an inside pass from a busy Thornley to go over on 66 minutes.

Tomkins then got Charnley over for his 31st try of the season and, after gallant Castleford pulled another try back through Jones, Tomkins grabbed his second after collecting Harrison Hansen's pass by his bootlaces.

The England full-back kicked a fourth goal to take his points tally for the match to 16.

Rangi Chase ban lifted by Castleford

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The Chase is up as Castleford end ban on England international

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UPDATED:

12:00 GMT, 11 July 2012

Investigation: The ban on Chase has been lifted

Investigation: The ban on Chase has been lifted

Castleford have lifted their ban on England international Rangi Chase following the completion of an internal investigation into a breach of club discipline.

The Super League club confirmed that Chase's suspension, handed down last month, related 'solely to matters concerning consumption of alcohol and non-attendance at training sessions' but said that no details relating sanctions against the player would be made public.

Chase will return to training tomorrow and said in a statement: 'I would like to apologise to my team-mates, coaching staff, the club and our fans for my behaviour on this occasion and am very sorry for any negative impact this may have had.'

Chase, Super League's reigning Man of Steel, was suspended on full pay on June 25 pending an investigation into his behaviour prior to Castleford's away game at Leeds on June 24.

Tigers coach Ian Millward refused to shed any light on the situation at the time, pending the outcome of the investigation, and today's announcement is the first time the club have confirmed the incident was alcohol-related.

'Castleford Tigers has today lifted the club-imposed suspension of half-back Rangi Chase,' read a Castleford statement.

'As previously notified, the club suspended Chase on full pay on June 25….This related solely to matters concerning consumption of alcohol and non-attendance at training sessions.

'The club's internal disciplinary board, having made a full investigation into all the matters referred to it, has taken the necessary action.

'The details of the findings and any sanctions made will not be made public.

'The club are satisfied that this matter is now closed and that he can resume his full involvement at the club. As such Rangi will return to training with the first-team squad tomorrow.'

Rangi Chase suspended on full pay by Castleford

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Man of Steel Chase suspended on full pay by Castleford after alleged incident

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UPDATED:

16:14 GMT, 26 June 2012

Suspended: Rangi Chase

Suspended: Rangi Chase

Super League's reigning Man of Steel Rangi Chase has been suspended by his club after an apparent breach of club discipline.

Castleford's 26-year-old England international was dropped for last Sunday's 40-22 Stobart Super League defeat at Leeds.

Tigers coach Ian Millward refused to shed any light on the situation during the post-match press conference but the club announced they had begun an investigation.

In a statement the club said: 'Castleford Tigers can confirm that Rangi Chase has been suspended on full pay while the club investigates his actions last weekend.

'The club hope for the conclusion of this matter sooner rather than later and will not comment further on the situation at this stage so to not prejudice the case for either party.'

Chase, who has appeared in England's last six matches including an 18-10 win over the Exiles 10 days ago, has never been far from controversy.

He was dropped, along with Joe Westerman, by then Castleford coach Terry Matterson for a match at Huddersfield in April 2010 for a breach of discipline and was forced to return to Australia last August to attend a court case.

History: Man of Steel Chase is being investigated by the club but on full pay

History: Man of Steel Chase is being investigated by the club but on full pay

Chase caused a stir in October when he switched his allegiance from New Zealand to England and was called into Steve McNamara's team for the Four Nations Series.

He had played for the Maoris against England in 2010 and was man of the match for the Exiles in their 16-12 victory over England at Headingley last summer.

Chase, who last September signed a new contract tying him to the Tigers until the end of 2015, is currently the subject of much speculation over his future.

Warrington are thought to have had a big-money offer for him rejected and Huddersfield are also being linked with a move.

Hull KR 70 Castleford 12

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Hull KR 70 Castleford 12: Robins run in dozen tries for record Super League score

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UPDATED:

16:29 GMT, 20 May 2012

The depth of Castleford's squad was laid bare at Hull KR as the injury-ravaged Tigers were taken apart by a Robins side who posted their best-ever Super League win.

Shorn of their three first-choice half-backs in Rangi Chase, Ryan McGoldrick and Danny Orr, Ian Millward's men rarely got a look in at MS3 Craven Park as they ran in to a Rovers side desperate to find some consistency to form the backbone of a play-off charge.

Craig Sandercock's men moved to within a point of the top eight with this win, although Castleford's diluted line-up offers a caveat to the margin of victory. Star hooker Daryl Clark also limped off in the second half to give the visitors another worry.

Hull KR 70 Castleford 12

Nonetheless, Rovers did what they did well and were home and dry with just 10 minutes on the clock.

They had scored three tries by that point and went on to add nine more, with David Hodgson scoring four and Shannon McDonnell three as the Red and Whites bettered their 70-14 victory over Wakefield last season.

It had never promised to be easy for Castleford and their depleted ranks and they needed to start in a watchful manner. Unfortunately for them, the opposite happened.

They were culpable of triggering their own downfall, though, with full-back Richard Owen missing Craig Hall's third-minute kick and giving McDonnell a free run in on his first appearance since announcing he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Michael Dobson added the extras and then assisted in his side's second try two minutes later, albeit with a hint of good fortune. His pass to the left appeared forward to the naked eye but not to referee James Child, and that left Kris Welham with an overlap which Hodgson duly took advantage of in the corner.

The home side were flowing and Blake Green backed that up with a beautiful 40-20 kick which led to another try – Sam Latus going in at the corner after a link-up between Green and McDonnell.

With Dobson perfect with the boot, Rovers were 18-0 up with just nine minutes gone and Castleford were unable to live with them, with a shattered Owen's kick-off flying out on the full.

That gave their opponents the ball again and eventually they were were able to touch down for a fourth time, McDonnell getting his second as he chased a Dobson kick. The latter kicked his fourth goal from the touchline.

The game was already over as a contest and a fifth try duly followed 21 minutes in as captain Ben Galea skipped around Grant Millington and set Hodgson free for a walk-in second which Dobson improved.

McDonnell was then denied a first-half hat-trick when he was called offside as he cashed in a Green kick, but Welham went in six minutes before the break after an offload from Con Mika.

Respite did arrive in the shape of a try from Jordan Thompson for Castleford, but normal service was resumed three minutes after the break when Hodgson got his hat-trick after some neat interplay between Galea and McDonnell.

Australian full-back McDonnell was not long behind Hodgson in securing his own treble, taking in a Dobson pass in the 55th minute, with Lincoln Withers joining the fun soon after, combining with Scott Murrell to break clear.

Murrell was making a nuisance of himself off the substitutes bench and laid on a score for Mika with 17 minutes remaining, laying on a short ball which the powerful second-rower carried over the line.

Castleford did cross again through Josh Griffin, but Rovers were quickly back on the front foot, with Hall crossing in the corner and Dobson then adding his 10th goal from 11 attempts from the line.

And a new record was set with four minutes remaining when Hodgson took Dobson's kick on the fly, with the scrum-half tagging on the extras.

Castleford 36 Widnes 12: Tigers roar but this league is lacking bite

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Castleford 36 Widnes 12: Tigers roar but this league is lacking bite…

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UPDATED:

01:00 GMT, 8 May 2012

If the theory that Super League has overstretched itself with a 14-team format needed any further proof, this was surely it.

Rugby league faces some big questions, with the recent departure of RFL chairman Richard Lewis to tennis’s All England Club adding momentum to the calls for change.

Certainly matches like this cannot be described as anything near super, with fears growing every week that there is just not enough talent to support the competition.

The top eight show huge strength, but below that there is a gaping chasm in quality and resources.

On target: Castleford returned to winning ways

On target: Castleford returned to winning ways

However, Castleford Tigers will not be concerned with such worries; they will simply celebrate a first win in four after defeats by St Helens, Warrington and part-time Featherstone.

Even missing Rangi Chase, their most potent attacking force, they still managed to run in seven tries against hapless Widnes, about whom questions must be asked.

Since their elevation back into the elite, they have conceded at least 30 points in each of their 14 competitive fixtures.

Widnes boss Denis Betts admitted: ‘We knew this year would be tough, but we’re allowing too many points against us.

‘We have little patches of competing and working hard together, then we fracture and break easily.’

Castleford barely needed to get out of first gear to lead 10-8 at half-time, with Brett Ferres and Daryl Clark touching down either side of Paddy Flynn’s effort for the visitors.

Jordan Thompson’s 53rd-minute solo score pulled Castleford out of reach and prompted the Vikings’ latest collapse, with Nick Youngquest claiming a 15-minute hat-trick and Clark grabbing his second.

Castleford boss Ian Millward said: ‘Nick was clinical in how he got across the line. It was good to see.’ Little else was.

Ian Millward to return to Castleford

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Millward set for Castleford return after tragic death of 19-year-old son

Castleford head coach Ian Millward has told the club he will end his compassionate leave this weekend.

The former St Helens boss has been coming to terms with the loss of his 19-year-old son, who died suddenly of a heart attack 18 days ago, leaving his assistant Stuart Donlan in charge of the recent Super League games against Wigan and Leeds.

Donlan will remain in charge for Saturday's trip to London Broncos but Millward has had a big say in team selection this week ahead of his return to work on Monday.

Return: Ian Millward will be back to retake the reigns at Castleford

Return: Ian Millward will be back to retake the reigns at Castleford

'Ian is going to be back with us on Monday,' Donlan said. 'We've got a meeting with the players and all the staff at one o'clock. He's got a few things he needs to say to everyone.

'He's in good spirits. He watched the game last Friday on Sky with his family.

'We had a good chat first thing on Monday morning and he rang me again on Monday evening to discuss how training had gone that day.

'We spoke about the squad and selections for this week and who he wants to play in the reserves to get some game time in.

Struggles: Castleford have been out of form during Millward's absence

Struggles: Castleford have been out of form during Millward's absence

'The unfortunate thing is it would have been Robbie's birthday on Saturday so it's another hurdle he's got to get over.'

Castleford will be aiming to end a four-match losing run on Saturday and Donlan says the imminent return of their head coach will provide extra motivation.

'The aim this week is to make his return a lot easier with a victory,' he said.

'It would be nice for him to be able to sit down and watch a winning team when he looks at the video on Sunday night.

'The aim is to welcome him back with two more points on the ladder.'

Richard Owen summoned to discipline hearing

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Owen in the dock as Castleford full-back is summoned to disciplinary hearing

Castleford have summoned full-back Richard Owen to an internal disciplinary hearing.

The 21-year-old, who has been handed the No 1 jersey by new coach Ian Millward for 2012, will face club officials on Wednesday.

In a statement, the club said: 'Castleford Tigers have called an internal hearing to address disciplinary issues relating to first-team player Richard Owen.

Centre of attraction: Owen will face Castleford officials on Wednesday

Centre of attraction: Owen will face Castleford officials on Wednesday

'The hearing will take place tomorrow with club officials, the player and his agent.

'No further comment will be made until the matter is resolved.'