Emotional Castleford Tigers hooker Paul McShane shocked at winning Super League Man of Steel award

The influential Castleford Tigers hooker, 31, was last night unveiled as the surprise recipient of the sport’s highest individual accolade as Super League’s best player.

He beat off competition from Wigan Warriors duo Bevan French and Liam Farrell, Huddersfield Giants captain Aidan Sezer and St Helens’ full-back Lachlan Coote.

It was an unexpected decision given his West Yorkshire club finished eighth outside of the play-offs and only won two games since the sport resumed after lockdown in August.

Nevertheless, throughout it all, Leeds-born McShane consistently performed for the Tigers, often carrying his side in times of need and also playing in the halves as their injury issues struck.

Before coronavirus shut down rugby league, he was leading the Man of Steel leaderboard with Castleford riding high in second spot and that earned the uncapped hooker a call-up into Shaun Wane’s first England squad.

An emotional McShane was tearful during his acceptance interview with Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney and revealed he almost became a part-time player when struggling with Wakefield Trinity in 2015.

“We were bottom of the league at the time and I can remember James Webster was in charge,” said the industrious No9, who had also previously been released by hometown Leeds Rhinos.

“I went into his office and asked what his plans for next year were and whether he was going to keep me on as I’d be happy to stay.

“But the club was undecided. They had myself and Pita Godinet as two hookers and one of us was going, one was staying. They really didn’t know.

“Performance-wise I wasn’t playing great so I did think am I going to have to go part-time and find a job to help support my family? I haven’t got a clue what I would have done.

“I’d have probably been a scrap man like my old man!

“As a kid my heart was set on playing rugby. I wasn’t the greatest at school, I’d not got any real qualifications and all I wanted to be was a rugby player so that does make this all the more special.

“That’s why I was so emotional: to try so hard to do well at the sport that you love, you never think of getting anything like this.

“You just want to do the best for your team but this is just awesome.

“It’s such an honour especially with some of the legends of the game thinking that I’m worthy of it, it is crazy to think.

“But to my family as well. I couldn’t say it on the (Sky Sports) video as I couldn’t speak it was such a shock!

“But the sacrifices they have made for me as a kid and coming through the tough times hopefully it makes them happy that those sacrifices have paid off.”

It was Castleford coach Daryl Powell who offered McShane a lifeline, saying he was only playing at 40 per cent of his potential and he would help him fulfil it.

A swap deal with Scott Moore was brokered in July 2015 and the brilliant McShane has flourished ever since, helping Castleford win the League Leaders’ Shield and reach a Grand Final in 2017.

This accolade continues Castleford’s impressive form when it comes to the Man of Steel; he is the fifth player from the West Yorkshire club to earn it after Adrian Vowles (1999), Rangi Chase (2011), Daryl Clark (2014) and Luke Gale (2017).

Leeds Rhinos’ Harry Newman was named Super League Young Player of the Year with Wigan’s Adrian Lam – whose side face Saints in Friday’s Grand Final –claiming Coach of the Year.

Huddersfield loose forward Michael Lawrence was top tackler with 749, while Leeds Rhinos winger Ash Handley claimed the top try-scorer award with 14.

The Spirit of Super League Award – awarded to those who make a significant contribution to the sport beyond the field of play – was won jointly by Rob Burrow and Mose Masoe.

A number of changes had to be made to the Man of Steel judging process over the course of the season, given the disruption to the campaign caused by Covid.

There were advantages and disadvantages to selecting the winner based on either points accumulated, or on a points-per-game average, as was introduced in October.

Furthermore, without completing the full 22 rounds of the regular season, there were further inconsistencies regarding opposition.

It is for these reasons that the contenders went to a final review by Man of Steel chairman Ellery Hanley, the ex-Great Britain captain who remains the only player to win the award on three occasions in 1985, 1987 and 1989.

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