TERRY MATTERSON is now in his fifth year as head coach of Castleford Tigers and desperate to make it the most successful yet.

The former Brisbane Broncos and Australian NRL State of Origin forward took over at The Jungle in November 2005 and has seen his club make steady progress ever since.

After gaining Super League promotion three years ago, the Tigers finished 12th in 2008 before making real strides the following season by moving up to seventh to earn a play-off spot for the first time since 2002.

That gave Castleford a tremendous amount of confidence and, after a stuttering start to 2010, Matterson’s men remain firmly in the hunt to be involved in the end-of-season shake-up once again.

CASTLEFORD Tigers host the Giants on Sunday as one of the form sides in Super League.

After a highly inconsistent first half to the season, the men from The Jungle look to be hitting form at just the right time.

A midweek 24-20 home triumph against Catalans Dragons just over a fortnight ago was followed by a 28-22 victory at Salford City Reds.

Then a hat-trick of triumphs was completed on Sunday when coach Terry Matterson’s men beat Bradford Bulls by the same 28-22 scoreline.

It was the Tigers’ eighth win from 19 top-flight starts and leaves them just one place away from a top-eight play-off spot, a point behind the Bulls.

Castleford know, therefore, that a win against Huddersfield this weekend could take them into the play-offs for the first time since the early weeks of the campaign.

Ironically, their upturn in fortunes has coincided with the departure to Catalans of vastly-experienced Australian half-back Brent Sherwin.

That’s put more pressure on the gifted Rangi Chase to take on extra responsibility, and the New Zealander has risen to the challenge.

With Chase pulling the strings, the Tigers have more than enough bite to trouble any side in the competition.

A COUPLE of weeks ago it was feared strike centre Michael Shenton’s season could be over.

The England international, who is being strongly linked with a move to St Helens, suffered a knee injury in the home victory over Catalans Dragons.

It was a major worry for coach Terry Matterson and his team, who rely so heavily on the all-round ability out wide of one of Super League’s brightest young stars.

But those fears were very quickly allayed, with Shenton returning last weekend to grab a hat trick as Castleford secured their thrilling 28-22 home triumph over Bradford Bulls.

That was just the latest contest which underlined the value of the highly-rated centre, who is now regarded as an established member of the England set-up and a certainty for the Four Nations tour to Australia in the autumn.