Tuesday 29 August 2017 15:33, UK
Former Castleford winger Denny Solomona is urging his old club to go on and make more history by winning their first Super League title.
The Tigers lifted the League Leaders' Shield for the first time in the club's 91-year history after beating Wakefield in their last match and they return to action at Huddersfield on Friday with their sights set on reaching a maiden Grand Final.
Solomona left Castleford in acrimonious circumstances at the end of the 2016 season, failing to return for pre-season training and subsequently switching codes by signing a three-year contract with Sale Sharks, but he says he was delighted with their table-topping feat.
"I'm over the moon for them," Solomona said as he prepares to start his first full season in the Aviva Premiership. "I've got nothing against them. What's happened has happened and it's in the past. It's all sorted now.
"I've got a lot of mates there, really good mates actually, and I wish them all the best. I hope they win the league. It's been a long time since they've won silverware.
"I sent my congratulations to the boys that I keep in contact with. I'm happy for them."
Castleford's dispute with Solomona, his agent Andy Clarke and Sale ended in June when they reached an out-of-court settlement in which they accepted a payment in excess of £200,000.
Solomona was named in the 2016 Super League Dream Team and shortlisted for the Man of Steel award after scoring a record 40 tries, a mark that is within the reach of his replacement Greg Eden, who has scored 35 so far with at least five matches left to set a new high.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield coach Rick Stone says he is not expecting the Tigers to ease off during the run-in despite having already secured a home semi-final.
"They've been the standout team in the competition, the table reflects that," Stone said. "They're 10 points ahead of the next team so they're probably 15-20 per cent better than any other side in the competition at the moment.
"Now they've won the League Leaders Shield, they want to keep building, keep some momentum going towards the semi-finals, which is really important at this time of the year. I expect after a week off that they want to get straight back on the horse."
