Castleford Tigers continue to build for the future with the announcement that Michael Shenton has agreed a new two-year deal with the club.

The Pontefract born centre, 21, came through the Tigers Academy set up after playing his junior rugby with Smawthorne and Upton. He was a member of the Tigers 2004 Academy Grand Final winning side, making his senior debut in the same season, and is currently eight appearances away from making his 100th for the club.

This year back in Super League he has been in tremendous form and must have come very close to an England call for Friday’s game in France.

Tigers CEO Richard Wright said: “Michael’s re-signing is tremendous news for the club and we know the fans will be delighted that we have been able to secure him on this new deal. We had set a number of priorities for player recruitment and his retention was up at the top. He is a very talented player who has shown great loyalty both now and in the past, and we feel sure that he will go on to earn international honours in the near future.

“With Michael following on from Joe Westerman and Craig Huby in agreeing new deals, and Richard Owen and Ryan Boyle already contracted for next season, we now have all five of the club trained players currently in our senior squad on board.

Michael said: “It’s good to have things sorted out and now I can look forward. I’m pleased to be able to continue working with Terry and looking to keep on improving as a player.

“It’s been hard this year but I know that the club has very high ambitions. We have had some tough times and now I’m looking forward to being part of the good times that I believe lie ahead for us.

“For the rest of this year though I am looking for us to get some more wins under our belt, finish the season positively and take some good form into the 2009 season.”

Tigers coach Terry Matterson said: “This is a massive signing for the club. We have put a lot of work into the development of ‘home grown’ players, so it was very important that we kept Michael on board. He is a talented footballer, still only 21, who I see as a future international, and it says a lot for our ambitions that he wants to commit himself to the club.”