 Woods has spent the last four years with Aussie side Penrith
Photos: rlphotos.com |
Instead of Bradford on the fixture list, read Batley. Instead of the Rhinos, read Rochdale. Welcome to life outside rugby league's top flight.
Castleford's relegation from Super League on 18 September last year ended the club's 78-year stint in the top division.
Now this Saturday, the post-Super League era starts with a friendly against Hunslet.
The man charged with taking the Tigers back up is David Woods, who has spent the last four years working at Penrith Panthers.
And after the disappointment of relegation, he knows that only success will do this season.
"It's my head that's on the block," he told BBC Sport. "If it goes wrong, the players get another chance, but the coach doesn't - if we fail, it's my fault."
Not that Woods is dwelling on the past.
Many of last season's squad have left the club, ensuring this really is the dawn of a new era.
 |  I've told them 'forget about last year, that was nothing to do with us - let's be positive from day one' |
"Five of this squad had a taste of top grade football last year, another four or five played at a lower level, but the rest are all new," says Woods.
"I've told them 'forget about last year, that was nothing to do with us - let's be positive from day one'. I've brought in new ideas, and they've responded."
Veteran player Dean Sampson helped out with coaching last season and will work alongside Woods this season.
"Dean's my assistant so I've given him free range of input, but I've changed everything - we've got a new game plan and I've given the players a new book spelling out how we play," says Woods.
Relegation means Castleford are now a bigger fish in a smaller pond, and Woods realises the team will have their work cut out to meet the expectations of the club and the fans.
"I've told the players people won't lie down for us," he says.
"People will want to make sure we stay down and will want to beat us so they can say they're up to Super League standard."
Last season, Cas never recovered from a disastrous start to the campaign.
Wood says this time a strong start is crucial but, with so many new faces, he was remains realistic.
"It's a long season so it's important that we peak at the right time," he says.
"We want to hit the ground running but it'll take time - players need to get used to one another, they won't gel straight away."
Woods had done his research before arriving at the Jungle, so he knows the burden of expectation he will be expected to carry.
| The longer we're out of Super League, the harder it will be to get back up |
"I came over during the season and when I asked people what would be a good club to work at, they told me Cas had a good junior set-up and a very good fan base," says the Tigers coach.
Those fans have given the club a vote of confidence by renewing their season tickets in impressive numbers, so Woods is aware he has to deliver the goods - and the sooner the better.
"The longer we're out of Super League, the harder it will be to get back up," he says.
"Two sides come down this year, so it'll be harder in the long run but we've got to be realistic and have a four- or five-year plan in place if it doesn't happen straight away.
"I expect promotion. With the players we've got and the way we're going about things, I expect to go straight back up. But it won't be an easy task."
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