TERRY MATTERSON is now in his fifth year as coach of Castleford.
His most successful season was in 2009 when the Tigers qualified for the play-offs for the first time since 2002 and their spirit shone through as they narrowly lost a thrilling clash with Wigan.
Matterson, who spent three years as Matthew Elliott’s assistant at Canberra Raiders, is also known to English fans for a successful playing stint with London Broncos during the early days of Super League.
THERE are some rumblings down at The Jungle in the wake of Castleford’s stuttering start to the Super League XV season.
Three wins from the Tigers’ first 10 games of the campaign has angered a section of supporters, who staged a protest at the end of Monday's 52-18 home defeat against St Helens to make their feelings known.
A small section of the home crowd chanted for the sacking of the Tigers Board and coach Terry Matterson after Castleford’s nine-try drubbing, claiming the club’s bosses are paying the price for assembling such a small squad.
Injuries to several key players are already taking their toll, with Matterson accepting times are tough.
“The fans are entitled to their say and their opinion, but we’re struggling at the moment and I don’t think it’s a secret,” he said. “We have seven of our first team out injured, but we’ve just got to ride it through and dig in.”
“At Easter time, when you have to back up from Friday, is not ideal for a team that has a squad as small as we have.”
Their challenge now, of course, is to try and back up again just four days later!
RATED as one of the best half-backs in Super League, Rangi Chase excelled during his first year at Castleford and will be looking for a repeat in 2010.
The New Zealander has already enjoyed spells at Wests Tigers and St George Dragons in the Australian NRL, which gives him a wealth of experience.
Aged just 23, Chase has the potential to become a major Super League star and Castleford coach Terry Matterson will be aiming to get even more out of one of the Tigers’ biggest crowd-pleasers.
If Chase can remain fit throughout the summer, Castleford could still emerge as one of the competition’s biggest attacking threats in 2010.
GIANTS: B Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whaturia, D Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Mason, Gilmour, Fa’alogo, Raleigh, Griffin, Lawrence, Faiumu, Grix, Aspinwall, Horne, Brough.
TiGERS: Shenton, Wainwright, Chase, Sargent, Huby, Hudson, Snitch, Westerman, Jones, Higgins, Jackson, Clayton, Netherton, Thompson, McGoldrick, Ainscough, Cooper, Tuson, Walker.
REFEREE: Steve Ganson
