Paul McShane desperate to fire Castleford Tigers to top-four finish after England disappointment

The 2020 Man of Steel was the starting hooker in Shaun Wane's first two games in charge of the national team to cap another stellar campaign at club level with Castleford Tigers.

But after missing the majority of the last pre-season, McShane grappled with his form and failed to make the most of an important audition in front of Wane against the Combined Nations All Stars in June.

The Tigers captain ultimately lost out to Michael McIlorum and Andy Ackers when Wane named his 24-man World Cup squad, although he could take some solace from a place in the standby group.

In the end, McShane and the rest of the country were left to consider what might have been as England crashed out in the semi-finals following an ineffective performance by McIlorum.

The player himself, though, had no complaints after missing out on the final squad.

"I wasn't surprised at all," said McShane frankly.

"There were hookers who played better than me last year and while I had three weeks in camp with the fallout squad, which refreshed me a bit and motivated me more for this year, the fact is it was nobody else's fault other than mine.

"So the only response is to get knuckled down and go harder at it this season."

Although he missed only one game and ran his blood to water for Castleford in 2022, McShane felt he fell well below his usual standards.

"I really didn't think I played that well at all last year," he added.

"I'm ready to go a lot better this year. I ended up missing most of pre-season last year and I thought I'd be okay going into the season.

"But the game has changed so much nowadays that it was a real shock to the system.

"Hopefully I can get a full pre-season under my belt this year. You feel like you're chasing your tail if you miss pre-season.

"You can understand the game as much as you want but if you're not fit, you soon find out.

“I think I played frustrated because of it too and I'm just determined to be better for Radders (Lee Radford) and the team."

The Leeds Rhinos academy product turned 33 earlier this month and is realistic about his prospects of appearing at the next World Cup in France in 2025.

However, there is no chance of McShane retiring from international duty just yet.

"I won't close the door but I think I just need to get back to playing my best for Castleford and see what happens off the back of that," he said.

"But we've got some great young hookers in the comp now and if we're thinking about the future and the next World Cup, then it's probably their chance.

"I love playing for this club and didn't think the lack of pre-season would impact me. I'm so proud to play for this club and think I let the pressure of that and being captain weigh me down a bit.

"This year, though, I'm properly going for it."

McShane linked up with the rest of his Castleford team-mates at the start of this week after enjoying a short break.

With several youngsters linking up with the first-team squad to highlight the good work being done by the academy – which this week earned an elite licence – McShane is beginning to feel his age ever so slightly.

"The boys have been in a few weeks but this is my first week back," said McShane.

"I think they're easing the old man back in but I've felt it! I've come back this year fresh and I'm ready to kick on.

"Everyone is having a real dig, the guys are working really hard. There seems to be more and more young guys here each and every year which is good for me because it keeps me on my toes.

"The news we got about the academy proves the club is pushing forward."

Castleford's 2022 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion in September when Leeds staged a late fightback to snatch the final play-off place from their rivals' grasp.

There were promising signs from the Tigers in Radford's first season in charge, not least their response to the loss of important players in key positions.

Radford's men are regarded as outsiders for the Super League crown but McShane is convinced they can challenge the likes of St Helens and Wigan Warriors in 2023.

"We had a slow start last year, had a lot of injuries and we nearly made it," he said.

"It was tough to take, really tough to take because we wanted to be in the play-offs.

"But this year we've no excuses. I think we need to be pushing for a top-four spot.

"Nobody will back us away from the group and externally but we know what we've got here."