Mathers sickened by terrace abuse on his return to Castleford

The full-back scored two tries as his side proved victorious at their near-neighbours on Sunday when he unexpectedly received some horrendous treatment from the hostile home crowd.

Mathers is, of course, technically still a Castleford player having signed from Warrington Wolves on a three-year deal at the end of the 2010 season.

He became a firm fans’ favourite in his first season at Wheldon Road, impressing with his attacking skills, leadership quality and defensive prowess.

However, when new Tigers coach Ian Millward arrived, and through no fault of his own, the experienced former Leeds Rhinos player was told he did not figure in the Australian’s plans before being shipped out to Wakefield on a season-long loan in December.

Sunday marked Mathers’s first return to Wheldon Road and he was understandably perturbed by the vitriolic reaction he encountered.

“The sort of chanting they came out with and the language used reminded me of being at Elland Road,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“It was scandalous. I’m so glad that my wife and little girl didn’t go and didn’t have to hear it.

“You are always going to get some banter – you expect that – but this was different and it didn’t really stop until the last 20 minutes of the game,” said Mathers.

“It’s been well-documented that leaving Cas’ was none of my doing so when I was stood waiting for kick-offs and got such real, nasty abuse it did shock me to be honest.

“We’re supposed to be a family game and we pride ourselves on that but this was something else.”

Mathers jubilantly threw the ball in front of the Castleford fans following his opening try in the 16th minute but insisted that was not inflammatory.

“Some people have commented to me saying I was over exuberant but all that was was a reaction to the dogs abuse I’d already taken,” he added.

“When I scored against Cas’ at Magic Weekend I didn’t react or celebrate at all, firstly out of respect for the players but, also, the fans.”

No decision has yet been reached on where Mathers, 28, will play next season but it seems inevitable he will continue at Wakefield who are seeking a fourth successive win when St Helens arrive on Sunday.

Trinity will be missing Dean Collis, though, after the centre accepted an early-guilty plea for a dangerous throw on Castleford’s Stuart Jones and was subsequently handed a one-match ban.

Leeds Rhinos have signed forward Mitch Achurch from NRL club Penrith Panthers on a four-year deal.

Achurch, 24, stands at 6ft 5ins, weighs 18 stone and is seen as a player of rich promise. He joins ahead of next season and, given his mother was born in London before emigrating to Australia, hopes to break into England’s 2013 World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, Widnes Vikings loanee hooker Paul McShane will miss Friday’s game at parent club Leeds after accepting an early guilty plea for use of a forearm against Bradford Bulls’ Brett Kearney.

Similarly, Hull FC’s Joe Westerman is suspended for one game after admitting a reckless high tackle on Wigan’s Epahalame Lauaki.

Bradford should today find out if their administrator has accepted a bid from Super League Europe to purchase the club.

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