Matt Newsum
BBC Sport rugby league journalist
Castleford have made the call to part with Ryan Carr after a protracted spell where he was absent from club responsibilities and it is clearly felt that the Australian could not continue.
Carr, who cut his teeth as a head coach at Featherstone where he also worked with Leeds, and in his native Australia with several clubs including South Sydney Rabbitohs, Mount Pritchard and St George Illawarra, had already attracted a number of impressive names to join Cas for 2027 such as veteran hooker Damien Cook and outside back Tyrell Sloan.
What this move could mean for those players who had signed up for Carr’s mission will be an interesting development, as will the identity of his successor.
Luke Robinson has been working with the club during the recent situation although it was stressed this was purely in an assisting role.
Paul Rowley, whose career thus far has been built on building sides such as Leigh, Toronto and particularly Salford, could be an option after his St Helens exit, while Cas might also consider the same route they took with Carr in approaching an ambitious assistant coach or NSW/Queensland Cup coach to take on their project.
Owner Martin Jepson has shown he will utilise his funds to help Cas in the same way Matt Ellis has done at Wakefield and getting this next appointment right will be vital if he is to see that goal of success in the short-term.