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Wales v England: Shenton looks to turn on style for England
DO not try and label Castleford Tigers' Michael Shenton as the new Keith Senior.
The aspiring centre continues his international development tonight, starting for England against Wales ahead of a likely appearance against France in Friday's Gillette Four Nations opener.
Late murmurs about Senior coming out of international retirement following his excellent season with Grand Final winners Leeds Rhinos proved wide of the mark.
England coach Tony Smith has pinned his faith in youth and so the 33-year-old veteran remains on the outside. Instead, here come the boys.
However, anyone expecting Shenton to replicate the explosive Senior, who has been a mainstay for England and Great Britain for well over the last decade, has got it wrong.
"I've got an opportunity to shine and have this chance but I'm not looking to fill Keith's boots," he said.
"I'm looking to start my own position here and my own style of play.
"We're two different types of centres and we're not like each other.
"We each have our own game and that's why Tony picked me – for mine. Now, I've got to go out and do what I do well."
Shenton, 23, is right. While Senior is predominantly brute force and a marauding presence out wide, the Castleford man is a more refined option whose footwork and turn of pace have left many a Super League opponent trailing in his wake.
He was agonisingly close to going to the World Cup last year with plenty of observers astounded Smith opted for Bradford Bulls' Paul Sykes instead.
It could have been a blessing in disguise, though, as Shenton has not been tarnished, like many, by the embarrassment of that sorry episode.
Instead, before the 66-12 mauling of France in June, his sole England experience was last October's debut versus Wales in Doncaster just before the World Cup squad headed out to Australia.
"It was an exciting game," recalled Shenton, who will be eager to score in Bridgend this evening, having failed to get over in two routs so far.
"It was a very, very young team Tony put out with a lot of people wanting to prove a point as many weren't going to the World Cup.
"There was plenty of attacking action and I really enjoyed that night, my first game for England.
"It was still a big disappointment not getting picked for Australia. I was surprised initially just to get in the 40-man squad. That was a whole great experience but it got me wanting to get involved even more.
"It was definitely my goal at the start of the year to get selected this time around.
"I have been and now I'm really excited about playing against Wales and the weeks ahead."
For all that Castleford's season proved frustratingly inconsistent, Shenton's remained high quality throughout as he returned 16 tries and proved his usual destructive self in defence.
The Pontefract-born player has risen through the ranks at The Jungle and turned down advances from Bradford Bulls last year to stay at the club which has helped forge his blossoming career.
But he realises nothing has been achieved yet.
"I have been quite consistent but still have plenty to work on," said Shenton, playing for the first time since the Tigers were ejected from the play-offs at the first hurdle by Wigan a month ago.
"There are areas I need to improve and still think I've a long way to go.
"I've plenty of goals I want to achieve.
"I'm still only young but I've got to put my best performances in now. I've not played for a few weeks and must show what I'm capable of.
"I want to test myself against the best in the world and the way to do that is play well in Super League each week and then push yourself further by playing against the likes of Australia and New Zealand. when the chance comes.
"When you think of some of the class they have in their sides you realise it's the finest.
"But we've set goals here with England as a team and we know what we have to do to achieve those."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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