Bulls showed true potential against Tigers – L'Estrange

The pressure was on after losing their first two Engage Super League games but in dismantling their West Yorkshire derby rivals 41-22, Steve McNamara's squad showed their real capabilities.

A robust forward display allowed the club's new-look creative triangle of hooker L'Estrange, scrum half Matt Orford and stand-off Brett Kearney to flourish with the Australian trio regularly cutting Castleford open.

"We're not getting too excited but it just shows if our boys in the middle run hard and we push for each other and look after one another that's what happens," said L'Estrange, who signed from Manly Sea Eagles along with Orford.

"We've got to do more of it. We got criticised during the week and that's never good but we had to take it; it was our fault.

"We weren't gelling but we're back on board now and can only go forward."

With Orford's pinpoint kicking and classy passing allied to Kearney's pace and guile, the Bulls' fresh half-back pairing delivered a quality display.

But hooker L'Estrange was also at the heart of the seven-try rout, showing his inventiveness around the ruck with some fine distribution to pick the Tigers apart, and he believes the combinations will only get better.

"We didn't get to train too much together," he said, Orford having only arrived last month. "But with the offloads and going forward sometimes we don't even have to go too wide.

"We rucked up the middle, found a chink in their armour and went for the jugular.

"Everyone played well and we're very happy," he said.

L'Estrange admitted the freezing conditions in West Yorkshire did not deter a player more used to life on Sydney's northern beaches.

"It was the first time I ever played with it being so cold but it's all good fun," said the 24-year-old, who won the NRL title with Manly in 2008.

"You don't get as tired as quick as you don't get so warm. It's a lot cooler and I enjoyed it.

"We're at Salford on Friday and I can't wait for that. We can only keep going.

"Castleford's one step. The first was to get a win. It's two weeks too late but now we're looking ahead."

After the 38-6 bullying by St Helens five days earlier, McNamara said: "We asked for a response and I thought we were pretty good."