Super League club Castleford have confirmed the appointment of Australian Ian Millward as their new head coach from next season on a three-year deal.

The 51-year-old former St Helens and Wigan boss has been given the job of succeeding Terry Matterson, who is leaving the Tigers at the end of the season after six years at the Yorkshire club to return home with his family to Sydney.

Castleford chief executive Richard Wright said: "We have been very impressed with Ian and his approach to the task and challenge of taking the Tigers to the next level.

"His CV speaks volumes. He is constantly monitoring new developments and techniques in both the English and Australian games and has ideal contacts in terms of sports science which is becoming increasingly important.

"With Ian we will have a coach that has repeatedly shown his ability to win big games, whilst also developing young players which is a key element to his task here.

"He has matured as a coach in recent years and has been handed a number of promising junior players on dual contracts from top coaches in Super League in his time at Leigh and developed them into better players, including our own Jake Emmitt.

"I'm thrilled that Ian will be joining us to take up the challenge of taking the Tigers to the next level."

Millward has been out of Super League since being sacked by Wigan in 2006 but has spent the last two years turning around the fortunes of Championship club Leigh and last month guided them to victory in the Northern Rail Cup.

"I've really enjoyed my role at Leigh," he said. "They are a good club and I'm proud of all I have achieved there.

"I returned to the English game via three years in the NRL and came back for family reasons. I've since been able to assess what is compatible from the NRL for Super League.

Millward returned to Australia, where held coaching positions at North Queensland and Canberra, before taking up a third stint at Leigh.

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