Ex-head coach of Castleford Tigers to begin his reign at Sheffield Eagles club to revive its players Super League ambitions.
Craig Lingard, 46, is setting his sights on soaring the Sheffield Eagles back to the Super League after their 26 year absence.
Sheffield Eagles announced its new Head Coach, Craig Lingard on December 2 ahead of the first Betfred Championship season opener against the Halifax Panthers, on February 16 at Olympic Legacy park.
Craig took the Batley Bulldogs to the Grand Final in 2022 and narrowly missed out on another playoff eliminator in the following season, before catching the eye of Super League regulars Castleford Tigers.
During his debut interview with the Sheffield Eagles media team, Craig said that he was delighted to be in Sheffield and that he wouldn’t have come if he believed that his ambition wasn’t reciprocated by the owners.
He said: “I want to be at a club that is ambitious, I want to be at a club with Super league ambitions and I think Sheffield have got that. I have spoken to the club over the past few weeks and their ambitions align with my own, so I’m looking forward to what the season can bring.”
Lingard was relieved of his duties as head coach for the Castleford Tigers on October 21, after the squad finished 10th last season.
But now he is ready for a new challenge with the Eagles, who have spent the best part of over two decades outside of the Super League.
The Eagles may finally be heading in the right direction, last season it only narrowly missed out of the eliminators last season on point difference.
He said: “I want the players to represent the club, just please get behind the team and hopefully we can build and get better as the season progresses and I am looking forward to meeting everybody.”
Lingard has wasted no time in making changes as Sheffield see five new players incoming ahead of the new campaign.
Two new Hookers in, Reiss Butterworth, 25, released from Hull Kingston Rovers, and Corey Johnson, 23, joins Sheffield from the Leeds Rhinos. Winger Jayden Billy, 20, released by the Huddersfield Giants and finally, forward Masi Mantongo, 28, who has a wealth of Super League experience making over 50 appearances for Hull FC has signed on a one year deal for the Eagles.
Craig Lingard’s first outing with his new squad will be the QLT Testimonial against his old club, the Castleford Tigers. The match will take place on January 10 at the Millennium stadium.
