Castleford Tigers review - 5 highlights from 2020

Even so, there were some memorable moments and here’s the Yorkshire Evening Post’s choice of five Tigers highlights from the past 12 months.

5: Jack Sanderson’s try against Huddersfield. Tigers lost the game, but debutant Sanderson - the 1,000th player to appear for the club - scored a stunner, Greg Eden rescuing a poor Castleford kick and combining with Mike McMeeken to put Sanderson over at the corner.

4: Niall Evalds’ signing. Salford Red Devils were keen to hang on to the free-scoring England Knights full-back, but his arrival at the Jungle should solve Tigers’ long-standing full-back problem. He can defend and will bring a new dimension to Tigers’ attack.

3: The emergence of Jacques O’Neill. The 21-year-old hooker matched his 2019 total of 12 appearances and was one of Tigers’ shining lights after Betfred Super League resumed. He has plenty of skill, but is also tough, doesn’t respect reputations and is happy getting stuck into bigger opponents. Paul McShane will be difficult to displace, but O’Neill, who signed a contract extension in September, has time on his side.

2: Outplaying St Helens. In Betfred Super League’s final fixture before the coronavirus shutdown, Tigers produced a scintillating display to crush defending - and eventual - champions St Helens 28-14 at the Jungle. They were second in the table at that stage, behind Wigan Warriors on points difference and looked like real Grand Final contenders.

1: Paul McShane named Man of Steel. The hooker became the fifth Tigers player to win the award, coming top of a shortlist which also included Wigan Warriors’ Bevan French and Liam Farrell, Lachlan Coote of St Helens and Huddersfield Giants’ Aidan Sezer. Nominations were based on points awarded to the top three players in each Super League game and former Great Britain captain and coach Ellery Hanley chose the overall winner, capping an outstanding season for McShane who was a model of consistency in an often struggling team.

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