STEPPING into the footsteps of a club's modern coaching legend is no easy task, yet that is the assignment which awaits Lee Radford at Castleford Tigers.

Daryl Powell called time on his long association with Castleford during the off-season and will now take charge of the Tigers' Betfred Super League title rivals Warrington Wolves.

Powell's departure follows a period of over eight seasons in charge at Cas, where he transformed the club from one battling at the wrong end of the table to one competing in major finals.

A first Super League League Leaders' Shield was delivered in 2017, with many predicting Castleford to beat Leeds Rhinos in the subsequent Grand Final that year.

The Tigers, who had 10 more points than Leeds through the league season, went on to lose 24-6 in their first Grand Final appearance at Old Trafford.

Two Challenge Cup finals were also reached under Powell, both of which ended in defeat.

Now the task for Castleford is build on the strong foundations laid by Powell and to grasp the domestic game's greatest prizes.

Radford has past experience of just that, winning back-to-back Challenge Cup trophies at former club Hull FC.

This is Radford's first coaching role in rugby league since leaving the Black and Whites in March 2020 and he has wasted no time in moulding his own squad.

Numerous players have arrived and departed from The Jungle over the off-season and it could not be said that Radford has been hampered in his desire to shape a side of players he wants to coach.

While senior names such as Peter Mata'utia, Michael Shenton and Oliver Holmes have left, the acquisitions of Jake Mamo, Joe Westerman and George Lawler appear particularly shrewd.

While there is an element of the unknown to such a new-look squad, the expectations of a cup or title will likely remain high.