Exclusive: Rangi Chase on his time at Castleford Tigers, his messy exit and the coach he failed to get along with

The name Rangi Chase still holds a great deal of power in one part of West Yorkshire.

That part is Castleford, where Rangi spent a glorious five years, scoring 47 tries in 129 appearances and etching himself into the club’s folklore with some incredible moments.

Ever the dazzlingly-inventive halfback, Chase won the Man of Steel in 2011 – the greatest individual accolade a Super League players can win – and he told Serious About Rugby League that he loved working under both Terry Matterson and Daryl Powell.

“I was a nobody when I went to Castleford and I became somebody and started achieving my goals and my dreams.

“My rugby league over here kicked off and it was awesome working under both.

“With Terry (Matterson) they didn’t have much staff and I got on great with Terry, I had a good relationship with him.

“He trusted me and let me play how I wanted to play – he would ask me how we would play as a team and valued my opinion, so I played great under him.

“Daryl was the same, he was tactically the best coach I’ve played under – he really studied the game and opposition.

“Him and his assistant Ryan Sheridan, they were students of the game and constantly studied the opposition.

“Powelly challenged you and was always challenging you to be better.

“He demanded respect and you wanted to play well. He came in when we came second to last and then we won five games straight.”

But, by the time Powell joined Castleford, Chase’s career at the Jungle was already over, with a deal at the end of 2013 to join Salford Red Devils materialising.

And, the 36-year-old admitted to Serious About Rugby League that his stay at Castleford turned sour when one boss took over.

“I had five years at Castleford and we weren’t achieving anything and as a player when you want to be the best you want to win the competition.

“I had won all the individual awards and wanted to win something as a team and that’s why I left, but things turned sour when Ian Millward was in charge.

“I had a great relationship with the board and then everyone was against me and it was him saying things behind my back and then saying something different to my face.

“The club I hold dearly in my heart, I left under terms I really didn’t want to.

“My decision was already made in my head that I needed a change because I felt like I carried that team for a few years and then I got treated like that – I felt like I needed something different.”