Tigers will home in on rewarding their fans

Friday's shock 24-10 win at champions Leeds Rhinos not only got their season off to a perfect start but eased memories of the 76-12 humiliation suffered on their last visit to Headingley in August.

However, England centre Michael Shenton concedes that will prove worthless unless the Tigers back it up with further success this weekend.

They play host to big-spending Warrington Wolves knowing it is imperative they turn around their dismal home form after winning just four Super League games at The Jungle last term.

Castleford – wooden spoonists in 2008 – achieved a remarkable 10 victories on the road to secure seventh spot and Shenton admitted: "We really couldn't put our fingers on what went wrong at home.

"We've talked about it as a team, with Terry (Matterson, the coach), the senior guys have got together and discussed it as well and we think it is just a mental thing.

"We've got some really great home supporters and it's such a shame we didn't do more.

"It really cost us. We could have been really high up the league especially with our away form.

"Sometimes things just didn't go our way at The Jungle.

"Hopefully it won't be the same this year. We start with Warrington and realise beating Leeds can be just a fluke if we don't put in good results in the next couple of weeks.

"That win doesn't mean anything yet."

However, the manner of Castleford's triumph pointed to what those loyal supporters can expect this season.

Leeds, who had already had the benefit of facing Crusaders in Wrexham, did not play poorly but simply had no answer to the drive, purpose and determination of a Castleford side showing just as much class as ruggedness.

"We totally controlled field position in the second half with our completion and kicking game," said Shenton, after the Tigers ran in 18 unanswered points.

"Leeds are a quality side but even they could hardly get out from their end or do anything about it.

"We kept penning them in, getting repeat sets and made them really work hard."

Shenton continued: "That result there last year definitely hurt me and those other lads who played.

"It was so disappointing. We just didn't turn up, didn't go forward, didn't run hard with the ball and totally messed up, but Friday night eased a lot of those bad memories."

Warrington are tipped to be one of the fiercest challengers for the Super League title in 2010. Tony Smith's men showed their intent with a 58-0 demolition of Harlequins in their first fixture on Sunday.

"They have quality throughout," said Shenton as he looked ahead to Saturday evening's televised contest. "It's another tough game but we're confident.

"We won't get carried away with that Leeds result. You can't switch off for a second in Super League and that's something we definitely learned last year."

The 23-year-old is set to go up against Ryan Atkins, the powerful centre who Warrington bought from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats during the off-season, and an England colleague.

"He's a big, physical and talented player with plenty of skill," said Shenton. "I've played plenty against Ryan and we always have a good battle.

"He's quite aggressive and they've got a lot of quality around him."

Shenton admitted Castleford have been inspired by coach Terry Matterson during pre-season.

The Australian lost a finger during a training ground accident in Perpignan last month but remarkably shrugged off the drama and was back with his squad within hours.

The bravery of their chief has reminded the Tigers of what they need to produce on the field this term.

"He's pretty crazy," said Shenton. "He didn't even spend the night in hospital. We're all saying now how we know everyone's going to have to be tough this year. After what Terry went through, anyone wanting to come off the field realises it has to be a pretty bad injury. You can't come off with any old problem.

"Terry has never really been bothered by it all and just stayed focused. We know we have to be the same this season."