TERRY MATTERSON hopes his best days as Castleford coach are ahead of him after his side booked a Challenge Cup semi-final spot.
Matterson will leave the Tigers at the end of the year, but still has the chance to leave with some silverware.
But as well as reaching the last four, Australian Matterson says he was also delighted to avenge their 16-14 loss to Huddersfield at the same stage of the competition in 2009.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s my last year, my first year or my third year or whatever, you want to get as far as you can,” he said. “We got to the quarter-finals a couple of years ago and we felt we let that opportunity go.
“My time is coming to an end here and I was hoping the highlights of my time here would be coming and if we keep working hard and we play well on the day, that could be the case.”
Matterson admitted his side were far from their best but hailed their resolve as they repelled a desperate Giants attack in the late stages to seal victory.
“I know Danny Brough missed a few goals but we held our nerve and that’s a good way to win at the end,” said Matterson. “It was an outstanding performance. Defensively we were outstanding, which is how we have to be against the best.
“One to 17, I couldn’t be any happier. It just looked like it was going to get away from us – similar to two years ago at the Galpharm – but we’re a bit stronger at the moment and we held our nerve.”
