Castleford Tigers’ Paul McShane thought his hopes of England career were over

Consistently one of the best hookers in Super League over the last few seasons, he has also been consistently overlooked and, now aged 30, it seemed like the opportunity might have passed him by once and for all.

However, one of the first acts of new England coach Shaun Wane – following his appointment in January as successor to Wayne Bennett – was to name the uncapped former Leeds Rhinos player in his early plans for the Ashes this autumn.

Rarely has a squad inclusion been more merited.

McShane had started this campaign in wonderful form for Daryl Powell’s side and, before coronavirus brought everything to a shuddering halt last week, was the early leader in the running for Steve Prescott Man of Steel.

Asked if he thought his hopes of international recognition had disappeared – Bennett did not consider the skilful McShane for Great Britain last year either – he admitted: “Yes, I did.

“Especially after 2017 and 2018; I thought I’d played my best rugby then. But I’ve had Powelly on my case about keeping trying to improve and improve.

“He’s kept on at me to push me to strive to try and get in that squad and it is paying off this year.

“I’m enjoying my rugby again this year and it (England) is something that I’ve wanted to do since getting invited to a couple of meetings in 2017. He (Wane) is a new coach and he’ll have fresh ideas so hopefully I can force myself into his plans.”

Typically, though, the global pandemic meant Wane’s first meet-up with his 31 “prospective Ashes candidates” had to be postponed on Monday.

There are growing fears Australia will not even make the tour here given their own season has also been put on hold, creating a likely backlog of fixtures.

“It would be a shame but for me I feel great in myself,” added Leeds-born McShane, who has proved one of Powell’s finest signings since joining from Wakefield Trinity in 2015.

“I’m enjoying where I’m at and if it gets cancelled this year I’ll still be pushing to get in there in 2021 for that World Cup.”

The competition remains difficult, mind; a trio of Lions stand in his way with the peerless James Roby still going strong at 34, former Castleford hooker Daryl Clark a class act with Warrington and Josh Hodgson proving so influential at Canberra Raiders.

He added: “I know it’s tough.

“You look at the players that aren’t even in the squad and know they’d do a job internationally so it’s a position, as a nation, we’re fortunate to have such strength.

“But all I’m worried about at the minute is when I’m playing for Cas that I’m playing my best and keeping consistent over time.

“If that gets me in there I’ll be over the moon.”

McShane has rediscovered his career-best form of 2017 when Castleford finished top for the first time in their history and also reached a maiden Grand Final, forcing Bennett to have that cursory glance at his talent.

“I seem to have found my running game again which I’d lost the past two seasons,” he explained, having helped Tigers go joint-top with five wins from seven games.

“It’s probably made me a more all-round player. Looking back, I was probably more of a runner than creator when I first came through. And it does definitely feel good to be doing that again.

“As for why things changed before, I think we played without a dominant half for two years and I maybe took too much responsibility in trying to organise.

“But this year I’ve got Danny Rich’ and Truey who have really stepped up and freed my game up just to play really.”

The capture of St Helens scrum-half Richardson and continued blossoming of 21-year-old Jake Trueman has helped encourage Castleford fans that their side could make another play for Old Trafford in 2020.

“You got the feeling pre-season that things were a bit different this year,” revealed McShane, who is six points clear of Huddersfield Giants’ Aidan Sezer and St Helens’ Jonny Lomax, his nearest challengers for Man of Steel.

“And there’s so much competition for places; if someone gets injured, whoever comes in is ready to go straight away. A good example is our wingers. Derrell (Olpherts) and Sticks (James Clare) have been our main wingers this year yet I imagine a lot of people wouldn’t have thought that.

“But they have both been outstanding for us, especially coming out of their own end. It’s frustrating how it’s all just stopped but there’s nothing we can do.”

Instead, like all players, he is training at home on his own or, as he puts it “getting run ragged by two little kids.”

McShane said: “It’s pretty hard to motivate yourself – but it isn’t going to last forever.”

Hopefully, the same will be said about that Test exclusion.