Castleford’s recruitment and strength in depth excites Paul McShane
Castleford hooker Paul McShane is delighted with the club’s strength in depth ahead of the new Super League season.
The Tigers have brought in Niall Evalds (Salford), Suaia Matagi (Huddersfield), Jordan Turner (Huddersfield) and Lewis Bienek (Hull) ahead of the 2021 campaign.
There are 31 first team squad members at Castleford this season, and the depth of Daryl Powell’s squad is something that excites McShane.
He said: “I think from the lads that are here from last year, there are a fair few who have got a fair bit of experience with us getting injuries and the players who we have brought in are established Super League players.
“I think if you look at our squad list one to 27 we have all had a fair few Super League games which, if someone were to pull out of a game, there’s a ready made replacement there.
“Everyone is desperate to get out there. It seems like its been the longest pre-season ever. I’ve only been involved for the past four weeks so I think everyone is champing at the bit to definitely right a few wrongs.
“There has just been a good feeling anyway throughout the whole of pre-season and I think thats down to the depth we have. People are training hard, competing with each other and pushing each other to get in that 17.”
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McShane, who has had a shoulder clear out over the off-season, was named the Steve Prescott Man of Steel in 2020 after a superb individual season.
When asked which of his team-mates he thinks could win the prestigious award this year, McShane replied: “The one for me that, from playing against who has come in, is Niall. The kid could be absolutely anything.
“He is electric and you don’t know what he is going to do. Hopefully with our way of playing suits him down to the ground and is even more of a threat. You just can’t get anywhere near him, he’s electric.
“And Truey (Jake Trueman). I know he is still a young kid and he might be a bit upset with last year but the kid can play. He’s got all the time in the world when when he has got his hands the ball so there’s a few.”
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