HOOKER Jacques O’Neill has made Castleford Tigers history as the youngest player ever to be included in their first-team squad.

The 16-year-old Askamite hooker has been named as part of coach Daryl Powell’s set-up.

He has spent pre-season training with the Super League squad – coming up against players almost one-and-a-half times his size with years of top-flight experience under their belts.

It is a big step for the former Dowdales School pupil, who does not turn 17 until May and who is at least three years younger than any other member of the squad.

O’Neill admitted his shock at the promotion at a time when most players would be expected to train with the under-19s, but is ready to make the most of the chance offered him.

“It feels great,”said O’Neill, who was part of the Cumbria Storm Academy set-up before moving to the Jungle.

“I’ve been working hard in pre-season. I didn’t think I would be promoted, but it felt good.

“Just being part of Castleford Tigers feels good, training with the full-time squad. I don’t really take notice of being the youngest, it has just happened when it has happened.”

He added: “It has come a lot sooner than I thought, I wasn’t expecting it at all.

“I thought I might be 18 or 19 when I made that step up. It’s a bit weird when I’m 16 that I have this opportunity.”

O’Neill has certainly noticed the differences between training with the under-19s and with the Super League squad – which also includes former Ulverston youngster Will Maher among the props.

The England youth international admits to feeling the pain after sessions, having trained alongside men who dwarf his 80kgs frame.

But it is an experience he is relishing, and O’Neill said: “You really notice the intensity. The long days as well, you’re starting at 7.30am and finishing at 2.30pm.

“There is the size of them as well. Some of them are about 17 stone and when they run at you you’re just getting hurt!

“It’s a massive learning curve. The first week I went in, I didn’t think I would be able to handle it, but I got through it with a bit of willpower and determination.”

O’Neill has not been given a first-team squad number and will play his rugby this year for the under-19s.

But he will be a regular part of Powell’s first-team sessions and hopes to feature in pre-season as he expects a big year ahead.

“I want to improve as a player and I think I have massively under Daryl Powell with my skills and everything,” he said. “As a person as well he has changed me, I’ve got a lot more respect.

“I’ve developed a lot here at Castleford and both Russ Walker (his coach at Dowdales) and Dave Clark (who coached him with Cumbria) have helped me a lot as well.

“Hopefully I will get a friendly this year in pre-season and push on from there. I want to play well for the under-19s this year as well.

“This is a big step. Next year, hopefully I will get a squad number and we will see where it goes from there.”