Cas can tackle world champs
Castleford coach Terry Matterson insists it is "as good a time as any" for his win-less Tigers team to tackle the newly-crowned world champions.
Matterson is hoping to turn the engage Super League table on its head when defending champions Leeds Rhinos take their 100% record to the Jungle on Friday night, fresh from their World Club Challenge triumph over Melbourne Storm.
"They have been awesome this year," admitted Matterson. "Obviously all their structure was in place from last year and they have the same squad but they look like they have added some stuff.
"They have a real hard steel to them, which has been evident in nearly all their performances. They have been ruthless.
"I was really impressed with the World Club Challenge. I loved the game - it was a real rugby league game - and we have got the opportunity next.
"We have got to play them and now is as good a time as any. We're coming off a fairly good performance, we're at home - there is going to be no room in the ground - and history tells you these games contain a lot of emotion."
The Tigers beat Leeds on their last visit to the Jungle in 2006 and, although they are still searching for their first Super League victory since gaining promotion, Matterson has been encouraged by the way his side responded to their 64-12 humiliation at Huddersfield.
They were leading against Harlequins going into the injury-time last Sunday but conceded two late tries to go down 22-16.
"If you look at our four games, we were in a real arm wrestle in the first (against Catalans) but came out wrong end of it; we did alright at Wigan with the amount of ball we had; the third game was obviously a massive disappointment but last week we did everything but win," said Matterson.
"Performance-wise, three out of four have been okay. I suppose the one that sticks in everybody's mind is Huddersfield but we reacted to that. We want to win games and we're not far away."
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Cas can tackle world champs
