Verdict - Castleford Tigers 53 St Helens 10: Holmes is latest off production line to ensure Tigers roar ahead

Tom Holmes has featured in countless games for Lock Lane, the amateur club just around the corner from Wheldon Road where sublime Castleford are, it seems, offering definitive 80 minute workshops on how rugby league should be played.

However, before Saturday’s televised sixth-round tie he had only started four games for his hometown club and spent most of his time on loan at Championship Batley Bulldogs this term.

Nevertheless, with Rangi Chase out of the picture – his club investigating an alleged off-field incident involving the former Man of Steel at Featherstone Rovers last Thursday – and doubts over Benny Roberts’ fitness, Holmes was given the nod.

“I got called Friday but actually missed the call,” he told The Yorkshire Post.

“When I did speak to Daryl (Powell) he said ‘listen it’s looking like you’ll be starting tomorrow.’

“It was a bit of a strange phone call but I got really excited, had a good [training] session on the Friday and then dug in on Saturday.

“I absolutely loved it. It was great to get a start and it was just a massive team performance from start to finish.

“We had a few little blips here and there but the scoreline shows how well we played as a team.

“Week in week out we’re just putting those really good performances together and it’s showing every week.”

Indeed, people are running out of superlatives for the Super League leaders given the way they are destroying sides with such brilliant football.

They have scored more than 40 points in all seven of their home games so far this season but, more importantly, continue to defend with real zeal, too.

On Saturday, Saints had a chance to turn this sixth-round tie in their favour when trailing just 10-4 after Ryan Morgan’s 17th-minute try.

Zeb Taia saw one effort disallowed but then Powell’s side fiercely protected their line for a sustained period before mercilessly blitzing their rivals with 21 points inside just eight minutes before the break.

That saw them 31-4 ahead and, from there, Super League’s leading try-scorer Greg Eden took his tally for the season to 18 with a hat-trick that came inside 19 second half minutes.

Fellow wideman Greg Minikin completed his brace with a fine solo score with Jake Webster, the veteran centre who has signed on again for 2018, having already scored twice in the first period.

Captain Michael Shenton, outstanding hooker Paul McShane and industrious forward Nathan Massey were their other try-scorers as Castleford – who did not concede again until Luke Douglas’ 74th-minute effort left a national audience on the BBC eulogising about their free-flowing style.

Tigers visit Hull FC in the quarter-finals but, before that, face Leeds Rhinos as the final match of Magic Weekend on Sunday. Powell would not comment about Chase’s position post-match although he was hopeful Zak Hardaker, the England full-back who was helped off with an ankle injury late on, would be fit for Newcastle.

It means Holmes, who played off the bench in Castleford’s previous win at Huddersfield with Luke Gale on England duty and Roberts injured, might yet get another outing.

“I’ve never played against Leeds so I’d love that,” he said. “I’m loving learning from all the half-backs at Cas. I’ve been on loan at Batley and played quite a few games there so it’s a bit different coming from the Championship to playing here but it’s just getting my game time there.

“Obviously it’s tough when Benny’s fit getting that half-back slot but to get the chance I really enjoyed it.

“When they brought me off on 20 minutes they said it was always the plan. Benny then had 20 minutes and I finished off the second half. I didn’t really expect to get 60 minutes on the field to be fair so it was really good. We’ll see how everyone pulls up this week but hopefully I get another shot.”

Powell conceded he took former Kiwi stand-off Roberts back off as precaution following his recent hamstring injury. Given Holmes was dovetailing so well with Gale, it was never a risk.

The 33-year-old Webster, meanwhile, has undoubtedly earned his new deal, the club also having an option for 2019 for the former New Zealand international.

Powell admitted: “Jake is a much more durable athlete than he’s been in the past and his skill sets and experience are a key part of our form so far this season.”

Castleford Tigers: Hardaker; Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden; Holmes, Gale; Lynch, McShane, Millington, Sene-Lefao, Milner. Substitutes: Massey, Roberts, Moors, Cook.

St Helens: Makinson; Swift, Percival, Morgan, Grace; Fages, Smith; Walmsley, Roby, Douglas, Taia, Knowles, Thompson. Substitutes: Amor, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Richards.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).