Wednesday 29 March 2017 15:54, UK
Jesse Sene-Lefao left the reigning NRL champions to join Castleford this year and the Samoa international insists he sees no difference in the quality of the two sides.
The Tigers are the early pace-setters this year in Super League, sitting top of the table with five wins and one defeat from their first six games.
Sene-Lefao was with the Cronulla Sharks last season, although he did not make the matchday 17 that lifted the NRL trophy in the Grand Final.
But after a World Club Series that saw Warrington beat Brisbane and then Wigan topple Sene-Lefao's former employers, the gap between Super League and the NRL appears to be narrowing.
And while Castleford have never won the Super League before, Daryl Powell's side are looking to change all that this season, with Sene-Lefao eager to continue playing his part at the Yorkshire club.
"It's been great ever since I got off the plane," he said. "Both for me and my family, we have settled straight away and we are getting more and more comfortable.
"It had always been a goal of mine to come and play over here in Super League, but I still had a year left on my contract with Cronulla so it was a big step to make.
"Everyone wants game time and Powelly has given me some good opportunities here. That extra trust from the coaching staff has made me more confident."
He added: "I feel like the team I have joined here are probably at the same level as them [Cronulla].
"I don't think there is too much difference between the NRL and here and I think the way we play in Super League is very hard to defend.
"I think this [Castleford] team could go over there and give it a good shake.
"It's still early on, we are only six rounds in. We are winning but there is still more for us to work on.
"One hundred per cent, this is a club that wants to be in the big games."
