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Danny Richardson had a disrupted first season at his new club Castleford Tigers, with four months off a due to lockdown. But the young talented number seven will be looking to impress in a full season with no disruptions.
Richardson starting his Rugby League career at Halton Hornets, he joined Super League side St Helens at the age of 16. He made his St Helens debut against Leeds Rhinos in 2017 and went on to play 13 times for the club in his first season.
2018 was a breakthrough year for Richardson, as he got his chance in the first team. He ended the season at the top of the goal and points scoring charts, playing an big part in a team who finished 10 points ahead of Wigan Warriors at the top of Super League, which resulted in Saints winning the League Leaders Shield for the first time since 2014.
Highlight moments for the half-back during the season were in wins over Wigan at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Good Friday, in which Danny kicked a touchline conversion and a drop goal to give his side their first Good Friday win over Wigan in nine years. Also away wins against Warrington and Leeds.
Just like he did at home against Wigan, Richardson kicked a conversion off the touchline at Headingley to level the game with minutes remaining, before he silenced the Leeds fans with a match winning drop goal. But the best memory of Richardson in the Red Vee, was the match winning penalty he kicked from inside his own half, to win the game after the final whistle had gone against Warrington. Cue the mad celebrations.
The 2019 season was a tough season for Richardson as he was forced to miss the start of pre-season due to injury. Once back fit he was given little opportunity on the field falling behind Jonny Lomax and Theo Fages in the pecking order.
Such a great young talent wasn’t left to sit and watch from the stands as Saints sent him out to Championship side Leigh for game-time, but on his return he was limited to 13 appearances that season after playing in 34 in the previous season. He did end his time at Saints on a high with a Super League title and call up to the England Knights squad.
“Danny Richardson spoke about his time at the club saying “ I have loved my time at Saints, right through the Academy system to the first team, and I want to thank everyone who made it possible”
“Castleford Tigers secured the services of the highly rated half back ahead of the 2020 season on a three-year deal. He had this to say about choosing the Tigers “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”.
“From a personal point of view, it has been an awful year for me and I am looking forward to reminding people what I can do and putting myself back on show. I thought if there was a place for me to improve and get the best out of myself it was going to be with the Tigers”.
Richardson started his Castleford career with a win against Toronto Wolfpack. On his home debut he faced Wigan Warriors, a game which would go down to successful goal kicking, an area in which Danny excels. The sides had both scored two tries but it was perfection from the boot from Richardson which secured the two points for the Tigers.
The Tigers had won four of their opening six games of the season before the visit of Richardson’s old club St Helens. The reigning champions had been struggling losing three of their first five games and the visit to the Mend- A-hose Jungle came at the worst time for Kristian Woolf’s side.
The game was set to be the last televised Super League game before the nationwide lockdown. An inform Danny Richardson, and his side didn’t disappoint in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Castleford put on a fine display to beat a below-par Saints side to go joint top of Super League.
Richardson led his side around the field, controlling the match with his brilliant kicking game forcing Saints to start from their own line. A match in which Daryl Powell’s side controlled from start to finish with Castleford coming away with a 28-14 victory.
Danny Richardson and his half back partner Jake Trueman had just played their best performance of the season, but it was their last for four months with all Sporting events cancelled due to the global pandemic. Before the lockdown the Tigers were on fire, joint top of Super League but the break came at the worst possible time for Daryl Powell’s side.
“After the four months off Castleford struggled to pick up where they had left off. Richardson said this in an interview with YorkshireLive “Some things were out of our control, I sort of fell off and I wasn’t playing as good as before lockdown but a lot was going on you’re stuck in your house on your own you come into training on your own, it’s just one of them”.
The Tigers finished the season in eighth having lost eight of their 10 games post lockdown. The two wins coming against Salford Red Devils and Hull Kingston Rovers.
With a full pre-season under their belts Danny Richardson and Castleford manager Daryl Powell will be looking to start the season in the form that saw them rise to the top of Super League. With the hope of no disruptions.
Powell has the quality in his side to have a repeat of the 2017 season, which saw Castleford win the League Leaders Shield and make their first ever appearance in the Super League Grand Final. A good season from the young pairing of Danny Richardson and Jake Trueman will be influential in the Tigers having a good season.
The 2021 Rugby League World Cup is on the horizon and all the English talent will be looking to book a spot in Shaun Wane’s England side. Richardson was called up into the England Knights squad in 2019. A successful season from the number seven could put his name in contention for a place in Wane’s squad.
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