Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers - McShane relishes head to head with England rival Clark

A strong start to the season has earned the Castleford Tigers hooker a place in new national coach Shaun Wane’s first squad ahead of this autumn’s Ashes.

The 31-strong group also includes former Castleford number nine Daryl Clark, McShane’s opposite number when Tigers visit Warrington Wolves.

McShane will be looking to take the game to Warrington and reflecting on his form so far this year, he said: “I’m really happy; I am happy I am running a bit - I lost my running game last year and I am enjoying that side of my game at the minute.”

Now in his 12th season as a Super League player, McShane described himself as “a young 30” and insisted: “I still think I have got plenty of improvement in me.

“Powelly [coach Daryl Powell] still sees plenty of improvement in me and as a player it is pretty encouraging if your coach says that - that you’re not done just yet.”

Playing alongside quality players, in good form, also helps. McShane added: “We’ve got a good core at the minute.

“We’ve all got a good understanding and Razor [Jordan Rankin], Danny [Richardson] and Truey [Jake Trueman] all want to get their hands on the ball, which takes a bit of pressure and responsibility off me.”

Tigers went top of Betfred Super League when they won at Hull KR eight days ago, though Wigan Warriors overtook them following their victory away to Huddersfield Giants on Sunday. But second place going into round six is pleasing, McShane reckons.

“Four [wins] from five is pretty good and we’ve knocked some awkward fixtures off,” he reflected.

“Hull KR is a hard place to go and they throw the ball about a bit and like expressing themselves, so it’s a good start.

“We are getting a few troops back as well, so the squad’s quite fresh, but we just need to keep building.

“It’s only early in the year and weather conditions are quite tough, so we just need to keep digging in and knocking results off.”

Tigers’ only slip-up so far was at Catalans Dragons in round three, but they have trailed at half-time in their last two wins.

“We don’t like starting the way we are,” McShane admitted. “But it is definitely a confidence-boost knowing we can reel teams in - and in the last two games we’ve kept teams scoreless in the second half which is a real positive.

“Our start is something we are talking about each week, the past three games we haven’t had a great start so it’s something we are trying to get right and hopefully we’ll do that sooner than later.”

In the televised victories over Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR coach Daryl Powell sent his players out early from their half-time break for a mini warm-up.

It worked both times with Tigers making a fast start and catching their opponents cold.

“It just gets us tuned in again, ready to go, instead of coming out into the cold and waiting to kick off,” McShane explained.

“It’s a little sharpener the coaches have come up with for us. Especially in Sky games it is a long half-time and it’s definitely showing some benefits.”

Tigers will travel to Warrington without Liam Watts, who has a finger injury, but Alex Foster has been named in the initial squad for the first time since damaging a knee a year ago.

Jesse Sene-Lefao, Jacques O’Neill, Tyla Hepi and Callum Turner all retain their place in the 21 after not being selected at Hull KR.

Warrington’s side will be selected from the 17 beaten 36-0 at Leeds last week, plus Dec Patton, Jake Mamo, Sitaleki Akauola and Danny Walker.

Warrington Wolves: from Akauola, Austin, Brand, Burrell, Charnley, D Clark, J Clark, Cooper, Currie, Davis, Hill, Johnson, King, Lineham, Mamo, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Walker, Widdop.

Castleford Tigers: from Rankin, Olpherts, Mata’utia, Shenton, Trueman, Richardson, McShane, Millington, Holmes, McMeeken, Milner, Massey, Sene-Lefao, Griffin, Foster, Blair, Smith, Clare, O’Neill, Hepi, Turner.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).

Kick-off: Friday, 7.45pm.