WATCH: The 2018 version of Cas is taking shape '“ Powell

England scrum-half Luke Gale kicked superbly to set last season’s Grand Finalists on the path to a ruthless 41-0 destruction of Super League’s bottom club Catalans Dragons and Powell admitted: “Luke Gale’s kicking well at the moment. He and Ben Roberts controlled the game.

“That’s the best Benny Roberts has played this season and we defended superbly.

“It’s always pleasing to keep a side out completely.

“Defensively the right edge was superb, led by the way Jake Webster defended. Everyone had a big impact off the bench as well. The pack was going well anyway and Liam Watts did a great job playing almost the whole first half.

“But then everyone who came made an impact.

“We are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel as to what the team can become because every season is different.”

Catalans coach Steve McNamara was left bemoaning a wretched display from his team.

They have just two wins all year and – after blowing a 21-0 lead against Wigan the week before –never even got going at Wheldon Road in an alarming display.

“It’s clearly disappointing and that performance was unacceptable,” said the former Bradford Bulls and England coach.

“We’ve made some big strides the last couple of weeks but that was a huge step backwards for us.

“We conceded five tries off kicks which tells you in the small areas of the game – the little effort areas – weren’t there for us for whatever reason.

“Castleford did a great job on us at the start of the match and Luke Gale put in an array of different kicks.

“But it wasn’t good enough from us. Physically we weren’t there.”