Tigers show their battling qualities by knuckling down, says Shenton

CASTLEFORD TIGERS captain Michael Shenton believes his side have earned rewards for not “moaning” about their injury problems
Castleford's Michael Shenton gets away from Catalans Michael Oldfield. Picture: Dave Williams.Castleford's Michael Shenton gets away from Catalans Michael Oldfield. Picture: Dave Williams.
Castleford's Michael Shenton gets away from Catalans Michael Oldfield. Picture: Dave Williams.

Three 19 year-olds, including debuting hooker Tom Holmes, featured in Sunday’s 36-28 win over Catalans Dragons with Castleford missing 10 first-team regulars.

Some other Super League clubs have regularly made it common knowledge about the extent of their enforced absenteeism but, refreshingly, the West Yorkshire side have generally just got on with their business.

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When reminded of how good the win was, considering they lost Samoa stand-off Ben Roberts on the morning of the game and then returning winger Denny Solomona in the warm-up, Shenton admitted: “We had a lot of adversity coming into the game, a few niggles and stuff.

“I know a few other teams have injury crises but we have our own going on.

“It’s good, though, the way the coaching staff and players have acted; we haven’t moaned about it once and just trusted the boys who have come in to do a job.

“I think there’s only been one real bad performance in recent weeks and we’ve won four out of five which shows where we’re heading.

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“Even if some performances have been scratchy, we’re moving in the right places.”

That is true given Castleford eased up to fifth spot ahead of Friday’s trip to in-form Wigan Warriors.

Tigers had gone 20-0 up against Catalans before seeing their lead cut to just two points.

A defining moment was when the visitors, who have lost six of their seven away games this year, messed up a glorious chance to push ahead when trailing 20-18.

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However, after Morgan Escare sped into space, his pass to the supporting Zeb Taia was wretched, the opportunity disappeared and, moments later, Shenton was crossing for his sixth try of the season at the other end to give his side great relief.

“That break is a little bit like that,” said the England centre.

“But with bits like that, if you look at the effort to get back there and put that guy under pressure on his pass - our boys could have just been lazy and accepted it’s a try, the pass might be perfect and they score.

“But the chasing back, the desperation from each other to get the result today, it saved a few tries.

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“Catalans are a dangerous team but we knew if we stuck in there and put in a bit of pressure on them we’d get the win.

“Daryl had said it’s in their heads, too, that they aren’t great away from home.

“It was a really pleasing, tough win. We always knew at some point they’d come strong.

“At the start it was all Catalans and really we struggled to get out of our own half.

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“They built pressure very well but the way we handled it and the composure, the effort and determination for each other to protect the line was pretty special really.”

Wigan will be a different prospect. They vanquished Hull KR 60-0 at the DW Stadium on Friday, the second time they had kept opponents scoreless in a current run of four successive wins.

That sequence started with a 34-0 home victory over Catalans, highlighting the sort of ruthless mood Shaun Wane’s third-placed side are in.

“We have got to go there and meet fire with fire,” added Shenton.

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“They are probably the form team at the minute as if you watch recent times they are executing really well.

“They have got their good-ball shape really strong and our defence has got to be better again. We’re making improvements but we must improve more.”