After a deft 40/20 kick by Lam, Charnley scored on the left to take the wing’s career total to 1,500 points, including 244 during his three-year spell with the Leopards and 862 for Wigan Warriors between 2010 and 2016.
O’Brien again embellished the scoreline from an impressive distance, proving head coach Adrian Lam’s prediction correct about his returning players being far better for a break.
Hooker Edwin Ipape, who has been one of those players building their fitness, joined Liu in dictating play, while Castleford were hampered by losing prop forward Tom Amone to a twisted ankle early on.
The second half started in quieter fashion, with Leigh making noticeably more unforced errors, including two shortly after the break by Jack Hughes.
Halton almost ended a 26-minute gap between the fourth and fifth tries but seconds later Lam played in Alec Tuitavake to burst through at close range and put Leigh firmly on course for their largest-ever win in this fixture, eclipsing their 30-6 home victory in 2023.
Tuitavake’s try seemed to deflate the Tigers, who conceded again five minutes later after a review disagreed with Castleford’s appeals that scorer Brad Dwyer had been offside when the move began.
Cain Robb could not stop Tuitavake powering past him from 10 yards for his second two minutes later, although Castleford swiftly scored a consolation through Tex Moy following Liam Horne’s driving run.
Hanley replied in kind, surging through before Lam supplied another clever pass for Brand’s second try on the right.
Leigh’s fourth successive win in this fixture strengthens their chase for a first-ever top-four finish, and home advantage in the play-offs, although Lam might be concerned about the absence of the influential Owen Trout through injury.
Castleford have now lost their past five away games and have conceded 224 points across their past five games.
