SHENTON From some not-so Grand Finals to the Theatre of Dreams

Cas skipper living a fairytale

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 being on today’s stage of Old Trafford, this was a National League One promotion decider at Headingley, where 20,814 saw the Tigers crush Widnes 42-10.

Shenton is the only survivor from that crucial night in Castleford’s history and had played in another decider in 2005 during a yo-yo period for the club.

Now the Tigers are 80 minutes from the first top-flight title in their 91-year history, and local lad Shenton will lead them out against Leeds at the aptly named Theatre of Dreams.

The 31-year-old (main picture and above, left with Rhinos’ Danny McGuire) said: “We had a couple of those Grand Final promotion games and the pressure in them is incredible.

“I was younger then, and I can only imagine how senior players felt 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. To be able to do that would be fantastic.”

Standing in their way are a Leeds side 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 as 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 we need to do.”