Man of Steel Paul McShane is ideal tutor for Castleford Tigers rising star Jacques O'Neill

O’Neill emerged as one of Betfred Super League’s most exciting prospects last year, despite having Man of Steel Paul McShane ahead of him in Tigers’ pecking order.

That is a double-edged sword; McShane is obviously a difficult man to displace, but also the ideal player to learn off at close quarters.

McShane - who has made a name for himself as a coach with National Conference outfit Hunslet Club Parkside - had the likes of Matt Diskin, Danny Buderus and Shaun Lunt ahead of him during his early days at Leeds Rhinos and knows the importance of supporting a young understudy.

“Me and Macca get on great,” O’Neill said of Tigers’ number nine. “He really looks after me, it is good to have someone like that in front of me.

“He is Man of Steel, best in the league, so he is awesome to learn off.

“He is great for me - we have a little bet on at the minute, about me putting some weight on and him losing it, which is good.

“He is always setting me challenges and I appreciate that from him.”

O’Neill, who has been with Tigers since he was 15, is currently in rehab after suffering a medial collateral ligament (mcl) injury suffered in Tigers’ win over Hull KR last October.

He was a try scorer in that game, one of his two touchdowns in 12 appearances, 10 of them as a substitute.

The injury was a disappointing end to a hugely promising season during which O’Neill developed a reputation as someone willing to go toe to toe with much bigger and more experienced opponents.

Extra bulk will make him more formidable in those situations this year and he said: “My goal is to put size on.

“Last year I was playing at 85kg and this year I want to be playing at 90 or above, if I can hold it well.”

O’Neill, 21, did not need surgery on his damaged knee and is hoping to be available for Super League round one, in March.

“It was a high grade two tear,” he said of injury.

“It wasn’t the best, but I wasn’t expecting as much game time as I actually got [last year].

“As soon as I started playing I got a bit of rhythm about my game and I was in the team every game towards the back end so that was a real positive for me.”

O’Neill will be less of a surprise package this time, but pledged: “I don’t think there’s any pressure on me.

“There might be from other people, but not myself.

“I don’t put pressure on myself, I am just looking forward to doing what I did last year, but even better.”

The game time he had last year was a reward not only for O’Neill, but also his mother who drove him to Castleford from Cumbria twice a week during his academy days and then moved to the area to be with him when he was promoted to the senior side.

Despite describing himself as a “proud Cumbrian”, he insisted: “I feel at home at Cas, I enjoy it here.”

Castleford finished eighth last year after their form fell away following the coronavirus lockdown.

O’Neill has yet to join in team training, but reckons - from what he has seen - they are gearing up for a good campaign.

“I am not really involved with the field sessions, but I am into my rehab and working in the gym,” he reported. “The boys are flying, they look really good.”