Lone ranger Paul McShane is out to bring the good times back to joint-bottom Castleford.
The England hooker, 34, plays his first Super League game since June in Thursday's Rivals Round clash with Leeds. Struggling Tigers are yet to get off the mark this term and are a far cry from the side that finished top in 2017. Back then, they agonisingly went down to Rhinos in their maiden Grand Final but have never even got close to success since.
Co-captain McShane is the last survivor from that Old Trafford squad seven years ago. He said: “I am - and it’s making me feel really old! Last year there was me, Adz [Milner] and Mass [Nathan Massey]. Adz obviously parted ways [to Huddersfield] and then Mass went [to Featherstone] at the end of the year so I’m the last lone ranger from that squad.
“It is disappointing we never kicked on. We just haven’t reached those heights since. 2017 was really special . No one really expected that from us then. But we’ve not really been in the play-offs mix since. It’s something the town deserves - a side pushing for stuff like that.”
Castleford hope head coach Craig Lingard, who got his first win in Saturday’s Challenge Cup victory at part-timers Batley, can revive them. Former Man of Steel McShane said: “The club are talking about a three-year plan now to get us up there. Hopefully this rebuild period is going to be worth it and the club can deliver not just for the team but for the town as well.
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“But first we’re just concentrating on facing Leeds. They can score amazing tries, have threats all over the field. We have to be ready for whatever comes, not giving in and playing for 80 minutes. We need to be desperate for that first win of the season.”
Castleford Tigers' Paul McShane marks his return from injury in Challenge Cup win at Batley (PA)Castleford’s chances of that elusive first Super League win are certainly boosted considerably by the creative McShane’s presence. He missed most of last year with a broken arm as Castleford got dragged into a relegation battle. And the ex-Rhinos player, who made an instant impression on try-scoring return against Batley, then suffered a hamstring issue in pre-season which sidelined him for the opening five games this time around.
Leeds-born McShane, contracted until the end of 2025, recalled: “I’d got through pre-season and really enjoyed it with the new faces. To play all the friendly games only to then pull up the week before the first Super League game was very frustrating. When you're building all these combinations, to then not even be able to start the campaign together, it was hard.
“It was just short of 12 months since I played a competitive game so it was great to get out there again against Batley. And help get that first win. But now we need to take it into Super League. We can’t keep going with ‘we’re working on things’ and ‘we’re trying hard.’ We need to get wins on the board. We’re into round six now and haven’t picked up a victory. It’s important we do.”
Castleford Tigers' Paul McShane (PA)Meanwhile, when they head to The Jungle on Thursday there'll be no Leeds players remaining from that 2017 decider. However, one of them is now on the Castleford coaching staff: Danny McGuire.
He joined as assistant coach after being let go by Hull KR in the off-season and McShane, who made his senior debut alongside him for Rhinos at Celtic Crusaders in 2009, said: "It’s great. He’s a winner.
"When he speaks, he speaks passionately and you listen. For me, as a kid when I was coming through at Leeds, Maggsy was one of those established players who put your arm around you. I've had a relationship with him ever since then, both when he was at KR and and when he was still playing at Leeds and I've been at Cas. He's a top bloke, a great coach and he's definitely added to us."
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