Castleford sent out a message that they really mean business this year as they strengthened their position at the top of the Super League with a 27-10 demolition of reigning champions Wigan.

The Tigers made it seven wins from eight with a clinical performance that condemned their injury-hit hosts to a third successive defeat.

The Yorkshiremen were not at their fluent best, as they dipped below their average of 40 points a game.

But coach Daryl Powell will be delighted with the steely nature of their defence which restricted the champions to a try in each half from full-back Morgan Escare.

Wigan are still without nine members of their first-choice starting team, including four England internationals, and have now gone four matches without a win.

They started the defence of their title with four straight wins to trail the leaders by five points going into Easter.

Castleford captain Michael Shenton wanted his team to make a statement at the DW Stadium and they did just that in his absence after he pulled out of the match with a back injury sustained in the warm-up.

Joel Monaghan was drafted into the side in the last-minute re-shuffle, with Greg Minikin switching to centre on his return from a two-match injury absence, and the late change appeared to affect them as they made a customary slow start.