21 replies to this topic

[Hughies sister]

CASTLEFORD Tigers have signed Warrington Wolves full-back Richie Mathers on a three-year contract.

http://www.pontefrac...ract.6415551.jp

[Kenilworth Tiger]

CASTLEFORD Tigers have signed Warrington Wolves full-back Richie Mathers on a three-year contract.

http://www.pontefrac...ract.6415551.jp

My God - this time next year we'll have a recognised full back playing full back!!!

Never been massively impressed with Mathers but in terms of balancing the side, allowing McGoldrick to play further up the park I see it as an excellent signing.

[Millman]

I thought he'd have stuck it out at Warrington, their aged signing will spend most of his time in the stands.

[RP London]

My God - this time next year we'll have a recognised full back playing full back!!!

Never been massively impressed with Mathers but in terms of balancing the side, allowing McGoldrick to play further up the park I see it as an excellent signing.

sadly thats Rchad Owen consigned to the wing though surely .. would have been good to get him a run at fullback when he is back..

[Kenilworth Tiger]

sadly thats Rchad Owen consigned to the wing though surely .. would have been good to get him a run at fullback when he is back..

True but not sure how long it will be until we see Richie back - Terry Matterson stated that he probably won;t be back for the start of the season

[RP London]

True but not sure how long it will be until we see Richie back - Terry Matterson stated that he probably won;t be back for the start of the season

oooh blimey i sort of assumed he would be back by the beginning of hte season.. its rare injuries overlap seasons when they happen so early.. nasty..

[Kenilworth Tiger]

oooh blimey i sort of assumed he would be back by the beginning of hte season.. its rare injuries overlap seasons when they happen so early.. nasty..

Indeed - was a really bad one!

[Human Punk]

I can't see this as a good signing for Cas. Mathers has about one good game a season, and the rest of the time he's a turnstile. Not so much a recognised full-back as a barely recognisable rugby league player. I thought he'd be off to union, or finding his level futher down the leagues a la Chris Thorman.

Sorry to say it, but Cas will struugle with Mathers as the last line of defence, especially if Shenton's going.

[Kenilworth Tiger]

I can't see this as a good signing for Cas. Mathers has about one good game a season, and the rest of the time he's a turnstile. Not so much a recognised full-back as a barely recognisable rugby league player. I thought he'd be off to union, or finding his level futher down the leagues a la Chris Thorman.

Sorry to say it, but Cas will struugle with Mathers as the last line of defence, especially if Shenton's going.

That's the most negative I've heard of Mathers I have to say!

That said, McGoldrick has been our last line of defence for a while now - I can't see Mathers being any worse

[getdownmonkeyman]

That's the most negative I've heard of Mathers I have to say!

That said, McGoldrick has been our last line of defence for a while now - I can't see Mathers being any worse

Let me put some real viewing time perspective on the 'turnstyle' comment. He will get nailed for pace, that is a given. Front on, he is good. Line defence, preventing players grounding the ball, he is excellent.

Arguably his greatest strength is organising the defensive line in front of him.

[Dave T]

Let me put some real viewing time perspective on the 'turnstyle' comment. He will get nailed for pace, that is a given. Front on, he is good. Line defence, preventing players grounding the ball, he is excellent.

Arguably his greatest strength is organising the defensive line in front of him.

Yep.

He has weaknesses, but I'd have been happy to see him stay at Warrington, and he will certainly improve the Cas team.

As GDMM says, he isn't brilliant when he has pace running straight at him from distance, and he makes the odd mistake under the high ball (but then so do most fb's).

On the positives - his kick return is very good in that he positions himself well and actually runs back fast and strong rather than jogging as many do nowadays. He is excellent close to his own line and his upper body strength is very impressive, he is brilliant at wrapping the attacker up so they can't get the ball down. He is also a very good link player, and has set up a fair few tries this year for our wingers. His enthusiasm and communication should also not be underestimated.

Ignore all the negatives, if you listened to most people on here, all players are ###### unless they have an Aussie accent. I hope he does well, and if he continues his Wire form then you will have made a good signing.

[sam]

Yep.

He has weaknesses, but I'd have been happy to see him stay at Warrington, and he will certainly improve the Cas team.

As GDMM says, he isn't brilliant when he has pace running straight at him from distance, and he makes the odd mistake under the high ball (but then so do most fb's).

On the positives - his kick return is very good in that he positions himself well and actually runs back fast and strong rather than jogging as many do nowadays. He is excellent close to his own line and his upper body strength is very impressive, he is brilliant at wrapping the attacker up so they can't get the ball down. He is also a very good link player, and has set up a fair few tries this year for our wingers. His enthusiasm and communication should also not be underestimated.

Ignore all the negatives, if you listened to most people on here, all players are ###### unless they have an Aussie accent. I hope he does well, and if he continues his Wire form then you will have made a good signing.

what he said.

he pulled off at least one try scoring tackle at the weekend, well, either that or the cas player ran at him and manoevered(sp?) mather's limbs around him deliberately to give the impression that he pulled off a great tackle!

hogson had better be bloody good. 2 years!

[Exiled Wiganer]

This may have been mentioned but he also has very good hands, and links into the line very well.
Plus, if Cas ha been struggling for numbers in the group hugs after tries have been scored, he will be an enthusiastic addition on that side of things.

[Dave T]

This may have been mentioned but he also has very good hands, and links into the line very well.
Plus, if Cas ha been struggling for numbers in the group hugs after tries have been scored, he will be an enthusiastic addition on that side of things.

Serious question, was he still like that when he was having a torrid time at Wigan, or is it just now he is enjoying his Rugby again?

[hindle xiii]

Indeed - was a really bad one!

More fuel for the anti-Bull fire?!


This contract will make or break Mathers. Yes he has his weaknesses but they haven't really been exposed this year, does this mean they've been cleaned up? Next year will show it.

Not quite 'big fish in a small pond', but a bigger fish. I hope it goes well for him, the two Richard's have similar styles so one would think they are interchangeable rather than conflicting.

[hindle xiii]

Serious question, was he still like that when he was having a torrid time at Wigan, or is it just now he is enjoying his Rugby again?

It's all he did at Leeds!

[Northern Exposure]

I thought he'd have stuck it out at Warrington, their aged signing will spend most of his time in the stands.

Brett manages to miss another last ditch tackle at the Halliwell-Jones

[Hannibal]

Serious question, was he still like that when he was having a torrid time at Wigan, or is it just now he is enjoying his Rugby again?

He was the main backslapper at Wigan.

It became embarrassing, so we let you have him.

[sam]

Serious question, was he still like that when he was having a torrid time at Wigan, or is it just now he is enjoying his Rugby again?

he was doing it at our place when he came on loan years ago!

[jackknife]

My God - this time next year we'll have a recognised full back playing full back!!!

Never been massively impressed with Mathers but in terms of balancing the side, allowing McGoldrick to play further up the park I see it as an excellent signing.

where would you say mcgoldrick would play best kenny? centre, stand off or loose