Richie MATHERS [
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Sat January 28, 2012
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats full-back Richard Mathers is feeling very much at home as he eagerly awaits the start of a new season, four months after he was made an outcast at neighbouring Castleford Tigers.
The former Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves player was shocked to discover that he did not figure in the plans of new Tigers coach Ian Millward, despite being just 12 months into a three-year contract.
Mathers says he was told to stay away from training and faced a season on the sidelines until Wildcats coach Richard Agar came to his rescue, negotiating a year-long loan deal.
The 28-year-old, who is set to make his debut for his new club in next Friday's Stobart Super League opener at Widnes Vikings, says he has never been given an explanation for his treatment at Castleford.
"There's probably only one person who can answer that and it's not me," he said at Wakefield's pre-season media day.
"I've not done anything wrong. I signed a three-year contract and played quite well last year.
"I was told that, no matter what, I wouldn't feature. I was told to stay away and, after three or four weeks of pre-season, I was allowed to go in and train on my own with the conditioning staff.
"I felt like an outcast. It's a lonely old place. You spend a lot of time on your own and it was a good job I've got a good family around me, people I could talk to and let my emotions out.
"It was quite stressful. You do a lot of soul-searching, wondering what you've done wrong but I couldn't find a reason and I still can't. I had 25 friends there all questioning it as well. I'm not a trouble-maker."
Mathers was rated the second best full-back in Super League behind Paul Wellens when he signed for Australian newcomers Gold Coast Titans in 2006 from home-town club Leeds.
He returned to England in 2008 to sign for Wigan and was a member of Warrington's back-to-back Challenge Cup-winning teams before moving to Castleford 12 months ago.
That experience prompted Agar to make Mathers one of his 18 new signings.
"He's been a winner throughout his career," he said. "He's won plenty of trophies at Leeds and Warrington and he backed himself and played in the NRL.
"To get a player of his experience at this moment in time, with what he will add to the group in terms of professionalism and mental strength, makes him a very good signing for us."
Mathers is still technically a Castleford player for the next two years but he is determined to make the most of the next 12 months with his new team-mates.
"It's quite refreshing to know that you are wanted because you do doubt yourself," he added. "I just want to enjoy this year and we'll see what happens."
Sat December 17, 2011
The Wildcats have further strengthened their squad for Super League XVII with the addition of Richard Mathers on a season-long loan from rivals Castleford Tigers.
An England international, World Club Challenge and Challenge Cup winner, Mathers will spend the whole of 2012 at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium with the loan deal including no option for the Tigers to recall him.
After spells at Leeds Rhinos, Gold Coast Titans, Warrington Wolves and the Tigers, Mathers' desire to play week-in, week-out has seen him take up the opportunity to join the exciting new era at the Wildcats.
The timing of the loan deal being completed means he will travel with the squad to north Wales for a three-day camp this weekend, and he says that is ideal for getting to know his new teammates.
"It couldn't have worked out any better really," said Mathers, who completed the loan deal at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium this morning.
"It's a whole new squad as we all know. The boys have been back eight or nine weeks now so it'll be good to get down to Wales, make a few friends and get into the structures that Richard has spoken about.
"When you're away for three days in each other's pockets it naturally creates a bond and I'm really looking forward to it."
Mathers joins the Wildcats ahead of one of the most eagerly anticipated campaigns in many years, but admits it will take time for the new squad to come together on the field.
"I think it's understandable that people are getting excited with the quality that has been signed.
"I think expectation will be quite high to start with but I think realistically, although we'll be doing everything we can to meet those expectations, I think it's going to take time and it's something that will grow over the course of the season and the pre-season friendlies will help massively."
After playing at two of the Wildcats' fiercest local rivals, Mathers knows he may have a bit of work to do to win round some of the supporters he will now be playing in front of on a weekly basis.
"I haven't got the best history have I, having played for both Leeds and Castleford!" he joked.
"But I'd like to think when I've got the Wakefield shirt on I'll be doing my job, which is giving everything in what I do on and off the field.
"I'll have to earn their respect like every player but it's exciting times and I'm looking forward to getting started."
"Richard will bring a number of qualities to our club," said Wildcats Head Coach, Richard Agar.
"He's highly respected by his peers and he's been a winner throughout his career.
"He'll set a great example as we try and establish our own standards and cultures within the club.
"He's a first class professional on and off the field and we're really happy to have him here.
"Obviously he fills a specialist position for us and we very much view him coming here as a senior player."
Mathers will be free to face the Tigers throughout his loan spell.
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 2012 Stobart Super League
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
12 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Round 1 [03 Feb 12] W 32-14 v Widnes (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [12 Feb 12] L 10-22 v Hull KR (H). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [25 Feb 12] L 18-36 v Bradford (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 5 [04 Mar 12] L 10-14 v Hull FC (A). [FB]
[View] Round 6 [11 Mar 12] L 14-32 v Huddersfield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 7 [18 Mar 12] L 30-32 v Warrington (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [25 Mar 12] W 32-22 v Catalans (H). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [31 Mar 12] L 0-36 v London (A). [FB]
[View] Round 10 [06 Apr 12] L 16-34 v Castleford (H). [FB]
[View] Round 12 [21 Apr 12] W 26-22 v Salford City (H). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [04 May 12] L 12-38 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Round 14 [20 May 12] L 12-42 v Warrington (H). [FB]
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2011 engage English Super League
Castleford Tigers
22 games; 7 tries, 28 points.
[View] Round 1 (Magic Weekend) [12 Feb 11] W 40-20 v Wakefield. [FB]
[View] Round 2 [19 Feb 11] W 18-12 v Huddersfield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [06 Mar 11] W 27-14 v Hull KR (H). [FB]
[View] Round 5 [12 Mar 11] W 34-24 v Catalans (H). [FB]
[View] Round 6 [20 Mar 11] L 14-18 v Bradford (A). [FB]
[View] Round 7 [27 Mar 11] W 56-18 v Crusaders (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [01 Apr 11] W 20-18 v Hull FC (A). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [10 Apr 11] W 52-20 v Salford City (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [15 Apr 11] D 26-26 v Harlequins (A). [FB]
[View] Round 11 [22 Apr 11] L 24-28 v Wakefield (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 12 [25 Apr 11] L 20-22 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [29 Apr 11] L 6-48 v Leeds (H). [FB]
[View] Round 14 [13 May 11] L 0-62 v Warrington (A). [FB]
[View] Round 15 [29 May 11] W 56-24 v Harlequins (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [05 Jun 11] L 18-40 v Huddersfield (A). [FB]
[View] Round 17 [12 Jun 11] D 22-22 v Wigan (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [17 Jun 11] W 15-8 v Salford City (A). [FB]
[View] Round 19 [25 Jun 11] L 20-54 v Catalans (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [01 Jul 11] L 18-48 v Warrington (H). [FB]
[View] Round 22 [16 Jul 11] W 26-20 v Crusaders (A). [FB]
[View] Round 25 [20 Aug 11] W 34-30 v Wakefield (A). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 11] L 18-50 v Hull FC (H). [BE]
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2010 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
23 games; 8 tries, 32 points.
[View] Round 1 [07 Feb 10] W 58-0 v Harlequins (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [13 Feb 10] W 28-16 v Castleford (A). [FB]
[View] Round 3 [20 Feb 10] L 20-22 v Wigan (H). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [28 Feb 10] W 14-10 v Huddersfield (A). [FB]
[View] Round 7 [19 Mar 10] L 18-28 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Round 8 [26 Mar 10] W 32-16 v Wakefield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [02 Apr 10] W 32-2 v Salford City (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [05 Apr 10] W 29-10 v Hull FC (A). [FB]
[View] Round 11 [11 Apr 10] L 16-36 v Hull KR (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 12 [25 Apr 10] W 40-6 v Les Catalans (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 14 [14 May 10] L 16-26 v Leeds (A). [FB]
[View] Round 15 [23 May 10] W 36-20 v Huddersfield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 16 [04 Jun 10] W 27-10 v Salford City (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 17 [11 Jun 10] W 35-16 v Hull KR (H). [FB]
[View] Round 19 [27 Jun 10] L 30-37 v Leeds (H). [FB]
[View] Round 20 [04 Jul 10] W 30-10 v Crusaders (A). [FB]
[View] Round 21 [11 Jul 10] W 54-30 v Castleford (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [16 Jul 10] W 23-16 v Wigan (A). [FB]
[View] Round 23 [24 Jul 10] L 28-29 v Catalans (A). [FB]
[View] Round 24 [31 Jul 10] L 24-26 v St Helens (H). [FB]
[View] Round 26 [20 Aug 10] W 36-18 v Hull FC (H). [FB]
[View] Finals Week 1 [10 Sep 10] L 12-28 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Finals Week 2 [18 Sep 10] L 22-34 v Huddersfield (H). [FB]
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2009 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
13 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Round 13 [16 May 09] W 18-16 v Hull FC (A). [FB]
[View] Round 14 [22 May 09] W 16-8 v Wigan (H). [FB]
[View] Round 15 [06 Jun 09] W 34-18 v Castleford (A). [FB]
[View] Round 16 [14 Jun 09] L 10-21 v Bradford (H). [FB]
[View] Round 17 [20 Jun 09] W 24-12 v Les Catalans (A). [FB]
[View] Round 19 [04 Jul 09] W 22-6 v Celtic (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 20 [11 Jul 09] L 26-40 v St Helens (H). [FB]
[View] Round 21 [19 Jul 09] L 10-28 v Huddersfield (A). [FB]
[View] Round 23 [01 Aug 09] L 22-24 v Leeds (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [14 Aug 09] L 16-36 v Wigan (A). [FB]
[View] Round 25 [21 Aug 09] L 28-40 v Wakefield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 26 [05 Sep 09] L 16-40 v Hull KR (A). [FB]
[View] Round 27 [13 Sep 09] W 44-34 v Harlequins (H). [FB]
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2009 engage English Super League
Wigan Warriors
1 games; [View] Round 17 [08 Feb 09] L 6-12 v Wakefield (H). [FB]
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2008 engage English Super League
Wigan Warriors
23 games; 2 tries, 1 goals, 10 points.
[View] Round 1 [09 Feb 08] W 47-28 v Harlequins (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [15 Feb 08] W 28-16 v Castleford (H). [FB]
[View] Round 3 [22 Feb 08] L 22-24 v Hull FC (A). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [01 Mar 08] W 28-14 v Bradford (H). [FB]
[View] Round 5 [08 Mar 08] L 20-32 v Warrington (A). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [28 Mar 08] W 8-4 v Wakefield (H). [F8]
[View] Round 10 [05 Apr 08] W 14-10 v Leeds (A). [FB]
[View] Round 11 [11 Apr 08] L 24-26 v Les Catalans (H). [FB]
[View] Round 12 [27 Apr 08] L 12-26 v Bradford (A). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [04 May 08] L 16-57 v St Helens. [FB]
[View] Round 14 [16 May 08] W 38-14 v Warrington (H). [BE]
[View] Round 15 [25 May 08] W 38-30 v Wakefield (A). [FB]
[View] Round 17 [14 Jun 08] L 38-45 v Les Catalans (A). [FB]
[View] Round 18 [22 Jun 08] D 22-22 v Castleford (A). [FB]
[View] Round 22 [18 Jul 08] L 12-46 v St Helens (H). [FB]
[View] Round 23 [01 Aug 08] W 66-6 v Hull FC (H). [FB] 2 Pts; 1g
[View] Round 24 [09 Aug 08] D 16-16 v Les Catalans (A). [FB]
[View] Round 25 [15 Aug 08] W 32-22 v Wakefield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 26 [22 Aug 08] L 16-52 v Leeds (H). [FB]
[View] Round 27 [05 Sep 08] D 16-16 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Finals Week 1 [12 Sep 08] W 30-14 v Bradford (H). [FB]
[View] Finals Week 2 [20 Sep 08] W 50-26 v Catalans (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Finals Week 3 [26 Sep 08] L 14-18 v Leeds (A). [FB]
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2007 Queensland Cup
Burleigh Bears
3 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 4 [08 Apr 07] L 14-16 v Dolphins (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 5 [13 Apr 07] L 16-29 v Aspley Broncos (H). [CT]
[View] Round 6 [21 Apr 07] W 38-24 v Souths Logan (A). [CT]
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2007 NRL Telstra Premiership
Gold Coast Titans
6 games; [View] Round 8 [07 May 07] L 10-24 v Cowboys (H). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [13 May 07] L 18-24 v Roosters (A). [FB]
[View] Round 10 [18 May 07] L 10-28 v Dragons (A). [FB]
[View] Round 11 [26 May 07] W 25-18 v Rabbitohs (H). [FB]
[View] Round 12 [03 Jun 07] W 28-8 v Raiders (H). [FB]
[View] Round 14 [17 Jun 07] W 16-14 v Tigers (A). [FB]
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2006 engage English Super League
Leeds Rhinos
14 games; 4 tries, 16 points.
[View] Round 1 [12 Feb 06] W 20-12 v Huddersfield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 2 [17 Feb 06] W 24-16 v Wigan (A). [FB]
[View] Round 3 [24 Feb 06] L 4-13 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [05 Mar 06] W 66-14 v Castleford (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 5 [11 Mar 06] W 58-10 v Les Catalans (A). [FB]
[View] Round 6 [17 Mar 06] W 20-12 v Salford City (H). [FB]
[View] Round 7 [25 Mar 06] W 60-0 v Harlequins (A). [FB]
[View] Round 8 [07 Apr 06] W 34-26 v Hull (A). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [13 Apr 06] L 18-20 v Bradford (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [17 Apr 06] W 24-18 v Salford City (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [21 Apr 06] W 42-6 v Castleford (H). [FB]
[View] Round 12 [01 May 06] L 16-44 v Warrington (A). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [05 May 06] W 36-24 v Harlequins (H). [FB]
[View] Round 14 [12 May 06] L 28-44 v Hull FC (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
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2005 English Super League
Leeds Rhinos
29 games; 14 tries, 56 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Feb 05] W 16-12 v Hull FC (A). [FB]
[View] Round 2 [18 Feb 05] W 30-18 v St Helens (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 3 [27 Feb 05] W 66-8 v Widnes (H). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [06 Mar 05] W 54-10 v Huddersfield (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 5 [11 Mar 05] W 38-6 v Warrington (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 6 [18 Mar 05] W 30-12 v Salford (A). [FB]
[View] Round 7 [24 Mar 05] W 42-12 v Bulls (A). [FB]
[View] Round 8 [28 Mar 05] L 28-44 v Wildcats (H). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [09 Apr 05] W 64-6 v London (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 10 [15 Apr 05] W 38-14 v Wigan (A). [FB]
[View] Round 11 [23 Apr 05] W 42-20 v Widnes (A). [FB]
[View] Round 12 [29 Apr 05] W 44-14 v Huddersfield (H). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [13 May 05] W 60-4 v Leigh (A). [FB]
[View] Round 14 [20 May 05] W 42-24 v Leigh (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [27 May 05] L 24-38 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Round 16 [03 Jun 05] W 34-14 v Hull (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [10 Jun 05] W 70-6 v Wildcats (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 18 [18 Jun 05] W 70-0 v Wigan (H). [FB]
[View] Round 19 [01 Jul 05] W 36-26 v Bulls (H). [FB]
[View] Round 20 [09 Jul 05] L 24-32 v London (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 21 [15 Jul 05] W 54-14 v Salford (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 22 [23 Jul 05] W 46-22 v Warrington (A). [FB]
[View] Round 23 [07 Aug 05] W 74-0 v Leigh (A). [FB]
[View] Round 24 [13 Aug 05] W 44-24 v London (H). [FB]
[View] Round 25 [19 Aug 05] L 10-42 v Bulls (H). [FB]
[View] Round 27 [10 Sep 05] L 16-33 v Warrington (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 28 [16 Sep 05] W 34-26 v Wildcats (H). [FB]
[View] Qualifying Semi-Final [30 Sep 05] W 19-16 v St Helens (A). [FB]
[View] Grand Final [15 Oct 05] L 6-15 v Bulls. [FB]
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Mathers, Richie
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