Chase doubt for Cup after court trip

Bidding to reach Wembley for the first time in two decades, it is hardly perfect timing for Castleford as they sweat on the availability of their stellar stand-off.

Chase, 25, is thought to be flying out tomorrow and appearing in a Sydney courthouse on Friday.

The alleged attack happened while he was still at St George Illawarra in 2008 and before he signed for the West Yorkshire club but has, until now, been continually adjourned during the intervening three years.

Chase, rated as a potential winner of the Man of Steel award this season given his creative brilliance, may not arrive back in England until the eve of the semi-final leaving huge question marks over his fitness and mental state.

However, so central is he to Castleford’s chances – coach Terry Matterson would comment only to say the Kiwi playmaker will be in his 19-man squad – that, if he is anywhere near the vicinity, they seem certain to name the Exiles star regardless.

The debilitating effects of jet-lag after a 24,000-mile return journey is one way of subduing Chase but Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield insists they still expect to be challenged by his undoubted talent despite any attempted subterfuge.

“We’ve got to prepare for him playing and I don’t think anybody really knows what’s going on apart from those in that Cas’ camp,” he said, although it emerged Tigers players were also in the dark about their colleague’s impending date with the law until just a few days ago.

“We won’t get to find out until two o’clock on Sunday.

“We’ve got to prepare for Rangi Chase to be playing and prepare for Cas’s best performance of the year whether that be with or without him.

“We’ve all played in teams in the past where your so-called best player is injured or misses out for whatever reason and that removes the pressure for your team.

“The shackles come off and they go out there and get a win against all the expectations so we’re also aware of that.”

Chase, who featured against St Helens on Sunday and has missed just one game all season, was pivotal in Castleford’s quarter-final victory over Huddersfield Giants.

That has set up the enticing prospect of making their first Challenge Cup final since Darryl Van de Velde’s squad lost to the mighty Wigan Warriors in 1992.

There is little chance of a custodial sentence being awarded if Chase is found guilty so that should not be an issue.

But Tigers supporters will be desperate to see him return and on the field.

Sinfield, 30, said: “I rate him very highly. I think he’s been one of the stand-out performers this year in Super League.

“Rangi’s got his bag of tricks, he thinks outside of the box, is always trying things and I think Cas have looked to him.

“He’s probably their big danger threat but we don’t know what’s coming up against us.”

The Leeds stand-off has personal experience of the demanding schedule Chase will face.

Along with current Rhinos team-mate Jamie Peacock, he flew to Sydney and back inside a week for Great Britain’s humiliating one-off Test in 2002.

Many of the squad played a Super League match the night before departing and were subsequently on the end of a record-breaking 64-10 defeat.

“It was a five-day turnaround on that trip,” Sinfield recalled.

“We got spanked that night but it is possible to do. To what extent your fitness is (affected) when you come back, I’m not sure.

“It’ll be a big challenge and a big ask of Rangi but it is achievable.”

St Helens’ James Roby and Castleford’s John Davies could also miss this weekend’s semi-finals after being cited for foul play in Sunday’s meeting between the clubs. They face RFL disciplinary chiefs tonight.

Bradford Bulls’ leading try-scorer Patrick Ah Van, who signed from Warriors last winter, has not been offered a new contract for next season and has joined Widnes on a two-year deal. “Pat will add a tremendous amount of power and size to our back line,” said Widnes coach Denis Betts.

Wakefield have given a two-year full-time contract to 19-year-old half-back Liam Kaye.

Former Leeds head coach Brian McClennan will take charge of New Zealand Warriors in the NRL next season.