Paul McShane (rugby league)

Paul McShane (born 19 November 1989) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker or scrum-half for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League and England at international level. He is the captain of Castleford.

Paul McShane
Personal information
Born (1989-11-19) 19 November 1989
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight14 st 5 lb (91 kg)[1]
Playing information
PositionHooker, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–13 Leeds Rhinos 63 14 0 0 56
2010(loan) Hull F.C. 4 0 0 0 0
2012(loan) → Widnes Vikings 11 3 4 0 20
2013(loan) → Hunslet Hawks 1 0 2 0 4
2014–15 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 51 5 0 0 20
2015– Castleford Tigers 212 29 67 2 252
Total 342 51 73 2 352
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– England 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]
As of 9 June 2023

He has previously played for the Leeds Rhinos, and on loan from Leeds at Hull F.C., Widnes Vikings and the Hunslet Hawks. He spent two seasons at the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats before joining Castleford in 2015. He was named Man of Steel for the 2020 season.

Background

McShane was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

Club career

Leeds Rhinos

McShane was captain of Merlyn Rees High School team. He joined the Leeds Academy from Hunslet Hawks in 2006. He was named Junior Academy Player of the Year in 2007[4] & kicked five goals in their Grand Final win over St. Helens.

McShane was named in the England U18 Academy squad to tour Australia in June 2008.

McShane signed a five-year contract with Leeds in July 2008, keeping him at the club until at least 2013.[5]

McShane coming off the field for the Leeds Rhinos in Florida in 2009

He made his first team début on the opening day of the 2009 Super League season against Crusaders at Headingley.[6] He made two further appearances in 2009, including his first start against Warrington Wolves.[7]

McShane was a replacement in the Leeds side that won the 2012 World Club Challenge, beating Manly-Warringah 26-12.[8]

Hull FC (loan)

In April 2010, McShane signed for Hull F.C. on a one-month loan deal.[9] He made 4 appearances for the club.[7] McShane made a further 9 Super League appearances for Leeds in 2010. He also scored his first try, against Harlequins RL.[10]

McShane playing for Hull FC in 2010

Widnes Vikings (loan)

In May 2012, Widnes Vikings signed McShane on a loan deal for the rest of the season.[11] McShane made 11 appearances during this period, scoring 3 tries and kicking 4 goals.[7]

Hunslet Hawks (loan)

McShane played for the Hunslet Hawks on loan during 2013.

Return to Leeds Rhinos
McShane playing for the Leeds Rhinos in 2013

In 2013, McShane made 23 appearances for Leeds. However, at the end of the season, Leeds agreed to release McShane from his contract and placed him on the transfer list.[12]

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

McShane was signed by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in November 2013.[13]

McShane playing for Wakefield in December 2014

Castleford Tigers

In July 2015, McShane joined Castleford on a two-and-a-half-year contract as part of a deal that saw Scott Moore move the other way on loan.[14] He made his club debut against Hull F.C. in the first game of the Super 8s.

McShane was ever-present for Castleford in the 2016 season, appearing in every game.[7] He was an integral part of the 2017 squad that won the League Leaders' Shield and he played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final defeat by Leeds at Old Trafford.[15][16][17] He was named Castleford Tigers' 3rd Place 2017 Player of the Year.[18]

In January 2018, it was announced that McShane had signed a new five-year deal with the Tigers.[19] McShane had an outstanding personal season for Castleford in 2018. He dominated the club's end-of-season awards, being recognised as the Fans' Player of the Year, Directors' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, and 1st Place Player of the Year.[20]

Despite disruption due to injuries within Castleford's squad and the Covid-19 pandemic, McShane appeared in every game in 2020. In November, McShane was voted Super League's 2020 Man of Steel - Castleford head coach Daryl Powell said, "He is one of the best nines in the game bar none and his all-round game is fantastic."[21][22] He became the first player since 2011 to win the award with his team failing to qualify for the play-offs.[22]

McShane signed a new three-year deal with Castleford in July 2021, extending his contract to the end of 2025.[23] On 17 July 2021, he played for Castleford in their 2021 Challenge Cup Final loss against St. Helens.[24] In recognition of his continued outstanding form, McShane was named Directors' Player of the Year and won the Immortals Award, voted for by Castleford legends, at the club's 2021 end-of-season awards.[25]

Following the retirement of Michael Shenton, McShane was named as the new Castleford captain in January 2022.[26] McShane made 14 appearances for Castleford in the Super League XXVIII season as the club finished 11th on the table narrowly avoiding relegation.[27]

International career

McShane was first named in England's elite performance squad in May 2017.[28]

McShane was named in Shaun Wane's first England squad in March 2020, in preparation for the end-of-season Ashes series.[29] However, the series was later cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

McShane earned his first senior England cap against the Combined Nations All Stars on 25 June 2021 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.[30] He represented England in their 30-10 victory over France at the Stade Gilbert Brutus on 23 October 2021.[31]

Club statistics
Season Team App T G DG Pts
2009 Leeds Rhinos 3 0 0 0 0
2010 9 1 0 0 4
2010 Hull FC (loan) 4 0 0 0 0
2011 Leeds Rhinos 18 5 0 0 20
2012 9 1 0 0 4
2012 Widnes Vikings (loan) 11 3 4 0 20
2013 Leeds Rhinos 24 7 0 0 28
2013 Hunslet Hawks (loan) 1 0 2 0 4
2014 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 27 3 0 0 12
2015 24 3 0 0 12
2015 Castleford Tigers 6 0 0 0 0
2016 32 7 4 0 36
2017 33 4 17 0 50
2018 31 8 10 0 52
2019 28 1 12 0 28
2020 18 2 0 0 8
2021 21 5 11 2 44
2022 28 1 5 0 14
2023* 15 1 8 0 20
Totals 342 52 73 2 356

(* denotes season still competing)

References
  1. "Paul McShane Biography". Castleford Tigers. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. "Player Summary: Paul McShane". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  4. Daly, Phil (8 October 2007). "ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS REVEALED". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  5. "Leeds secure four academy stars". 17 July 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  6. "Leeds 28-6 Celtic Crusaders". 6 February 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  7. "Paul McShane - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  8. "Leeds Rhinos 26-12 Manly Sea Eagles". 17 February 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  9. Correspondent (21 April 2010). "Hull sign Rhino McShane on loan". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  10. "Harlequins 22-42 Leeds". 12 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  11. "Widnes Vikings take Leeds Rhinos hooker Paul McShane on loan". 31 May 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  12. "Paul McShane: Leeds Rhinos agree to transfer list hooker". 2 November 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  13. "Wakefield Wildcats sign Paul McShane from Leeds Rhinos". 28 November 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  14. "Hookers trade places". Castleford Tigers. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  15. "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  16. "Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  17. "Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  18. "2017 Winners". Castleford Tigers. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  19. "Paul McShane: Castleford Tigers hooker signs new five-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  20. "2018 Awards Winners". Castleford Tigers. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  21. "Season Review Castleford". www.superleague.co.uk.
  22. Bazeley, Marc (24 November 2020). "Man of Steel: How Paul McShane beat the odds to claim Super League accolade". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  23. "Paul McShane: Castleford hooker signs new three-year deal with club". BBC Sport. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  24. "Challenge Cup: St Helens beat Castleford 26-12 for first Wembley victory since 2008". www.bbc.co.uk.
  25. "2021 End Of Season Awards". Castleford Tigers. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  26. Bazeley, Marc (13 January 2022). "Paul McShane: England hooker named Castleford Tigers captain ahead of 2022 Super League season". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  27. "Castleford Tigers ace Alex Mellor delivers brutally honest assessment of 'awful' season; 'We've massively underperformed'". www.loverugbyleague.com.
  28. Bower, Aaron (2 June 2017). "Paul McShane best hooker in Super League after England call, says Daryl Powell". TotalRL. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  29. "England head coach Shaun Wane names first squad ahead of end-of-year Ashes series". Sky Sports. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  30. "England 24-26 All Stars: Shaun Wane makes losing start with England". Sky Sports. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  31. Hafez, Shamoon (23 October 2021). "France 10-30 England: Bateman, Farrell, Davies, Makinson with tries". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
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