Castleford Tigers have announced that hooker Paul McShane has agreed a three-year extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2025 season.
The 31-year-old has been an integral part of Castleford’s squad since his arrival at the club in 2015. McShane was an ever-present in the League Leaders’ Shield winning squad in 2017 and was named the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel last year following an impressive 2020 campaign with the Tigers.
McShane has been part of the England squad throughout 2021 and featured in the recent defeat to the Combined Nations All Stars at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
On the decision, McShane said: “I’m over the moon to be staying for the next four years, I have to give credit to Cas for improving next year’s deal for me as well which is something they didn’t have to do and something that I’m grateful for.
“I want to keep getting better at everything I do, hopefully in the next four years, it sees me keep improving and getting better.
“I feel great, I feel as though the older I get, the smarted I’m getting both playing-wise and body-wise in looking after myself.
“The club has made me the player that I am now, the people involved, my kids only know me playing for Cas which is a big factor as well. I’ve probably turned from a boy to a man here.”
Current Castleford Head Coach Daryl Powell said: “Paul has been such a pivotal figure ever since he came to the club, but he has grown in every aspect of his performance levels, and his professionalism is a real driver for the team.”
“He is a class fella, and I am delighted he agreed to stay at Castleford, the club means so much to him and he means so much to the team.”
Head Coach of the Tigers from 2022 onwards, Lee Radford, commented: “To have Paul long-term is a credit to the club really and a credit to him, he is arguably one of the most influential players in any team in the competition, he seems to be getting better with age.
“I was fortunate enough to get to play him with at Hull when he came on loan from Leeds, formed a good relationship with him there and hopefully we can continue that in a coach and playing capacity.
“I think he is the most influential nine in the competition, how he steers the team around and how he takes the pressure off the pivots and his leadership qualities are there to see.”
