Matterson talks of accident

Monday 18th January 2010

Castleford Tigers coach Terry Matterson has spoken of the shocking, freak accident which resulted in him losing a finger during the club's pre-season training camp in France last week.

Matterson had guided the Tigers through several days of training in the Perpignan area in the build-up to a match with Catalans Dragons.  And now he has explained that he was strangley unaware of the severity of the accident at the time it happened as he retrieved a ball that had been kicked away from the training field. Unfortunately, by the time he was able to get to hospital it was too late for Doctors to save the finger.

"The ball was kicked out of the training ground and I went to retrieve it which meant me leaping over a fence. My wedding ring caught in the fencing and tore it off", explained the popular Australian coach.

"We didn't elaborate too much last week, we were in camp and we just wanted to get on with it so we decided not to make too big a statement until I got back. Like myself the players were in shock at the time but I am very proud of the way they reacted and their performance in the game on Saturday", he added.

"Andy (Hay) took over and, although not in the circumstances you would expect, it was good experience for him.

"I'd also like to thank our physio Russell Jones and another of our backroom team, Matty Merrick for their assistance and I would particularly like to acknowledge the support and help given to me by the people at Catalans, especially Sebastian Munoz", said Matterson.

Castleford Tigers say Matterson is seeing a specialist to check the need for further treatment.