Intertwined histories come to light in Wakefield vs Castleford battle

Rewind to 2017 and Daryl Powell, Luke Gale and Michael Shenton were the architects of Castleford Tigers' most successful season. Fast forward to 2025 and they are at the helm of Wakefield Trinity, ready to greet them in Rivals Round.

Back in 2017, Wakefield academy coach Gale kicked a drop goal that sent the Tigers through to the Grand Final for the first time in their existence.

Wakefield assistant coach Shenton captained Castleford to their first top-place finish in Super League in that very same year, leading them out at Old Trafford in October too.

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And Powell? He was the man in charge as that history unfolded.

While Castleford were defeated by a star-studded Leeds Rhinos outfit in the Grand Final, those three figures are forever remembered for giving the club their greatest successes to date.

There is more history to this feisty derby than Wakefield relegating Castleford on the final day of the Super League season back in 2006 thanks to these three figures.

On Thursday night, three Castleford legends will be doing all they can to ensure that, when their old club arrives at The DIY Kitchens Stadium on Thursday night, they walk away with their first loss on their turf since September 2013.

Yes, Castleford have dominated Wakefield's territory for 12 years, with Trinity picking up just seven home wins in this fixture since 1999.

After a strong start to the season for Wakefield, Powell will be hoping 2025 is the year an unwanted stat that he helped create comes to an end for his club.

Then turning attention to Castleford, you only have to look at their coach to see more history than meets the eye.

Danny McGuire was part of that 'golden generation' 2017 Leeds Rhinos team that denied Castleford for their first Grand Final win eight years ago.

Not only that, he scored two tries at the 'Theatre of Dreams' that night in his final Leeds game in a trophy-laden career, lifting the trophy aloft alongside the late, great Rob Burrow.

It has been a frustrating start for McGuire in his maiden year in charge of the Tigers but it would make a statement for them, as the clear underdogs, to continue a winning streak their rivals have come to rue.

The task for McGuire is simple: keep Wakefield waiting for a home win in the derby. The task for Powell is simple: end a Castleford winning streak that he helped to build.

There are threads of storylines and intertwined history running throughout this Yorkshire tussle and another chapter will be written on Thursday night.

Round Eight - RIVALS ROUND- every match live on Sky Sports

Thu April 17: Wakefield vs Castleford - 8pm
Fri April 18: Hull FC vs Hull KR - 12.30pm - exclusively live on Sky Sports
Fri April 18: Wigan vs St Helens - 3pm - exclusively live on Sky Sports
Fri April 18: Leeds vs Huddersfield - 5.30pm
Sat April 19: Leigh vs Warrington - 1.30pm
Sat April 19: Catalans vs Salford - 6pm

Sky Sports will again show every game of Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining four matches each week shown on Sky Sports+ via the red button.