Matterson is determined to restore Castleford’s pride against leaders

The ignominy of their last performance against Warrington has not played a part in Castleford’s preparations for tonight’s game with the Super League leaders.

They were humbled 62-0 last month in an awful display their coach Terry Matterson labelled “embarrassing.”

But he said: “We haven’t really talked about that – we’re just trying to bounce back from last week’s loss.”

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That was a similarly disappointing 54-20 defeat in Perpignan, when the searing heat was as much a deciding factor as Catalan’s free-flowing football.

“It was about 36 degrees and our young guys just didn’t handle it which meant more pressure was put on the rest,” said Matterson. “It’ll be good to get back to Castleford on Friday and make our fans proud.

Warrington are a formidable side and we know we’ll have to be right at the top of our game, pretty similar to the way we played against Wigan.

“If we do that, we give ourselves a chance.”

Castleford managed to earn a 22-22 draw at the champions three weeks ago, a throwback to the form which had seen them set the competition alight earlier in the year.

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Consistency has been their problem since, the price Matterson has paid for bringing through so many youngsters amid a crippling injury list.

Greg Eden, 19, is the latest to debut tonight with four centres currently sidelined.

Bradford Bulls have released Wales international full-back Dave Halley from the remaining five months of his contract so he can join Keighley.

He had been a favourite after emerging through the Academy for his home-town club but ruptured his cruciate ligament last year and has not featured this term.

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Halley, 24, has recently made his return for the Bulls Under-20s but, with first-team chances limited, has moved down to the Championship One challengers to regain his fitness.

He hopes to then find a Super League club for 2012.