Castleford want to be on the big stage this year, says Michael Shenton

Drew Darbyshire

Castleford captain Michael Shenton says his side are completely focused on picking up silverware in 2020.

The Tigers won the League Leaders’ Shield back in 2017 but lost to Leeds in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Shenton, who is currently enjoying his testimonial year, admits his side need to grow this year and be even better than they were in 2017.

He said: “Showing quality is important for us but I feel we need to grow.

“We’ve changed some personnel in there, we had a good off-season and everyone has been working hard together but we have to change somehow.

“You don’t just play to finish in fifth or sixth spot – you want to win things and challenge at the top. We want to be in the big games on the big stages. We want to get that buzz about us, we’ve been that team before and it’s an addictive feeling so we want to feel it again.

“We are definitely striving for more. We can do something special. I don’t mind us going under the radar with everyone talking about all the signings other teams have made.”

Castleford were knocked out of the Super League play-offs by Salford last year – but Shenton is determined to right those wrongs this time around.

He added: “We’ve got a job to do so it doesn’t matter who comes up against us.

“We have to be better than the opposition and that’s what rugby is all about, so I think we have a real focus this year.

“We want to do the job ourselves and not really focus on what the opposition are bringing. We are just bothered about what we are doing.”

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