Michael Shenton bidding for Old Trafford glory 10 years after helping Castleford back to Super League
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Ten years ago Michael Shenton played and scored in a Grand Final for Castleford in front of a packed house with everything on the line.
But rather than Saturday’s stage of Old Trafford, this was a National League One promotion decider at Headingley, where 20,814 saw the Tigers overwhelm Widnes 42-10.
Shenton is the only survivor from that crucial night in Castleford’s history - in fact he had played in the same game in 2005 as well during a yo-yo period for the club.
The Tigers stand 80 minutes from the first top flight title in their 91-year history - and local lad Shenton will lead them out at the aptly named Theatre of Dreams.
The 31-year-old said: “We had a couple of those Grand Final promotion games and the pressure in them is incredible.
(Image: PA)
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
“I was a bit younger then, and I can only imagine how the senior players felt then with the responsibility of the team getting promoted being on their shoulders.
“It was similar to now in that all your hard work can come undone on one night - you have to turn up and get the job done.
“That gave me a taste of what it’s like to be successful.
“I remember thinking in 2007 how incredible it would be to win something at the top level, a major trophy, and how sensational it would be for the town.
“It’s different to one of the big clubs winning it for Cas - it would be unique being the first team in the club’s history to do it, and rugby league is such a big part of this town.
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“To be able to do that would be fantastic.”
Standing in their way are a Leeds Rhinos side that Shenton will not underestimate despite the record between the clubs this season.
He added: “We’ve beaten them four times but this is a totally different challenge.
“It’s hard to do a game plan on Leeds because they play a lot off-the-cuff.
“But whoever we were going to face, one of the best things we’ve done this year is focus on ourselves and the job that we need to do.”