How Man of Steel Paul McShane's love for rugby league was revived by Castleford Tigers boss Daryl Powell after disappointment at Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity

The Castleford Tigers hooker won Betfred Super League’s highest individual honour when he was last night named Steve Prescott Man of Steel.

And the 31-year-old has told of how he was on the point of quitting full-time rugby league and following his father into the scrap business after being discarded by home city club Leeds Rhinos and with his place at Wakefield Trinity in doubt.

Tigers snapped him up in 2015, in a swap deal with Scott Moore and has not looked back.

“Performance-wise, I wasn’t playing great,” he recalled of the dark days following his move from Rhinos to Trinity.

“I just thought ‘am I going to have to go part-time and find a job to help support my family’?

“I haven’t a clue what I would have done, I would probably have been a scrap man like my old man, but as a kid my heart was set on playing rugby.

“I wasn’t the greatest at school, I got no real qualifications and all I wanted to do was be a rugby player.”

Tigers revived McShane’s love for the game and he stressed he owes his current success to Castleford coach Daryl Powell and his teammates at the Jungle.

“I signed at Leeds at 16 and I’d supported them all my life,” he said.

“Getting released by Leeds really hit home.

“I was gutted and I really struggled up until speaking with Powelly and signing for Cas.

“I was losing love [for the game] and probably lost a bit of confidence in my ability as well.

“From the first conversation I had with Powelly, he was really positive in everything he was saying.

“At the time he said ‘you’re only at 40 per cent of your playing ability at the moment and I believe I can get the best out of you’.

“To hear that, when I was thinking I was done, it lifted me back up and gave me the love back.”

Wigan Warriors’ Bevan French and Liam Farrell were shortlisted for the award, along with Aidan Sezer of Huddersfield Giants and St Helens’ Lachlan Coote.

McShane - who said he would have voted for Farrell - conceded he was “shocked” to win and added: “Stuff like this, it is awesome.”

Powell was delighted to see McShane become Tigers’ fifth Man of Steel, after Adrian Volwes, Rangi Chase, Daryl Clark and Luke Gale.

Only Wigan Warriors (11) and St Helens (nine) have won more Man of Steel awards.

Powell said: “Paul has had an incredible season and has been fantastic for us for a number of years, so this is a massive pat on the back for how he has grown as a player since joining Castleford.

“It’s the ultimate accolade so this is fantastic for him. He’s a champion player and we’re glad to have him.”

McShane was second on the Man of Steel table, based on points awarded during the regular season.

With clubs having played an unequal number of matches, the top-five were shortlisted and Man of Steel chairman Ellery Hanley made the final selection.

Hanley said: “The award deservedly goes to Paul McShane because he performs in every game he plays in.

“He is Mr Dependable and everyone holds him in the highest regard.

“As a player he consistently displays bravery, skill and athleticism.

“We are so lucky to have him in our game.”

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