Castleford Tigers star and former teammate tackle the stigma around mental health with amazing gesture

Not long ago, four men with deep connections with Castleford Tigers decided they wanted to do their bit to raise awareness about the importance of mental health.

Then they were either current of former Tigers players in the shape of Jesse Sene-Lefao who left to go to Featherstone Rovers and is expected to join Sheffield Eagles in 2023, now Warrington Wolves centre Peter Mata’utia, 38-year-old veteran Quentin Laulu-Togagae – the father of Hull KR youngster Phoenix – and current Castleford Tigers and former Huddersfield Giants prop Suaia Matagi.

The quartet decided to start a podcast called Talk Your Walk to open up on their own mental health battles to show their listeners the importance of mental health and opening up.

They have continued to do their part for raising awareness about mental health with current Castleford Tigers star Suaia Matagi and ex-star and Sheffield Eagles bound QLT going to a prison to speak to the guards about the importance of opening up considering their high pressure jobs.

It’s safe to say both believed it was a massive success with QLT saying on Instagram: “What an experience, going in there. They took us for a tour of the prison we gave a talk with the staff and we even had one of the deputies there.”

Meanwhile, Matagi said: “I think one of the biggest take aways was at the end we got to speak about to staff about the pressures and raising awareness of mental health.

“One of them came up to me and said ‘everything you said I’m really grateful and it made a change.’

“It made it worth it, we were in uncharted ground because we’ve made a difference in one person’s life.”

Lastly, QLT spoke about the importance of breaking down the stigma of talking about mental health:

“They spoke about the stresses they feel and the anxieties they have before they go to work but also how it impacts their home lives.

“It’s great to give them the opportunity to open up and get rid of the stigma.”