Tigers secure Richardson signing

Posted: Friday 18th October 2019 - 2:23 PM

Castleford Tigers have secured the services of highly rated half back Danny Richardson from St Helens.



The 23-year-old playmaker will move to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on a three-year contract after the club paid Saints an undisclosed fee for his transfer.

Richardson, who is in the latest England Knights squad to face Jamaica on Sunday, is the club’s replacement for the departing Luke Gale and is set to form an exciting partnership with fellow international Jake Trueman in the halves for the Tigers.

Richardson, who will be proudly supported by Lisa and Andrew York, told castlefordtigers.com: “There were a few clubs enquiring about me for next year but the minute my agent came to me and told me about Cas being interested I jumped at the chance and couldn’t wait to get the deal over the line.

“The club’s 2017 season was great and the club have been building for a while. With the coaching staff we have and the way other half backs have developed whilst they’ve been at the club over the years, I thought that if there was a place for me to improve and get the best out of myself it was going to be with the Tigers.

“From a personal point of view, it’s been an awful year for me and I’m looking forward to reminding people what I can do and putting myself back on show. I feel like I’m a good talker who can steer the ship and if I can do that then hopefully I’ll be bringing the best out of the team at the same time.

“Hopefully I can strike up a partnership for the next however many years with Truey because he’s had a great year again this season. If we can really nail down our spots and get the team ticking over, hopefully we can all go on to win trophies together.

“I’m in the middle of a training camp with the Knights now and I’m looking forward to the game against Jamaica on Sunday because I’ve not played for a while. Hopefully I can dust off a few cobwebs in that match, rest up for a bit and then come into Cas and hit the ground running in pre-season because I want to be flying come day one.”

A talent who came through the Saints academy, Richardson made his first team debut in 2017 and then enjoyed a breakthrough season the following year, playing a prominent role as Saints lifted the League Leaders’ Shield in a campaign that saw him named in the Super League Dream Team after topping the competition goal and points scoring charts.

This season, Richardson played a further dozen matches in the Red Vee as he competed against Jonny Lomax and Theo Fages for a spot in the side but he now heads to pastures new having racked up 399 points in 59 appearances for Saints, including 10 tries, 175 goals and nine drop goals.

Castleford’s Director of Rugby Jon Wells said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Danny on a three-year contract.

“His signature means that we now have two young, English, international halves to spearhead this team. Danny is an exciting player, fast, creative and a high-quality goal kicker, and we feel he is the right man to unlock the huge potential in our backline.

“He comes from a great system at St Helens and I would like to place on record my thanks to Eamonn McManus and Mike Rush from the St Helens club for their professionalism during the negotiations, which will now see Danny progress his career and contribute as a Tiger from 2020 onwards.

“We have a fine record of improving players, vast international experience in the coaching group, and at 23, Danny will have his best years ahead of him here at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

“Danny will be relocating to Yorkshire and he joins us for day one of pre-season in just under a month from now – and he can’t wait to get started.”

Head coach Daryl Powell added: “We have just made a signing that should excite and engage all of our supporters as we look towards 2020. To work alongside Jake Trueman, we have signed one of the best young half backs in rugby league.

“Danny is a player of real quality with the potential to play international rugby. He has a sharp rugby mind alongside his ability to kick the ball in a special way both for goal and tactically.

“We are looking forward to helping Danny go to the next level in his career and can’t wait to get started towards next season.”

Tigers fans can join the club in 2020 by purchasing a season ticket, available in store and online now. Prices have been frozen for next year with season cards now also providing access to all reserves matches at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle, alongside first team, women’s, under-18s and under-16s action. See www.castlefordtigers.com/2020 for more details.