Tiger Dwain on the prowl

It was a balmy morning in Castleford and a barmy day all round. Dwain Chambers checked in at The Jungle, chucked out a few passes and sat open-mouthed when told he could make his debut against St Helens in Sunday's home match. This from a man, when asked at a bunfight of a press conference how many players there are in a rugby league team had to be prompted by his solicitor. As for the points scoring system, he shook his head. Just hope you've checked your insurance policy Dwain.

His Olympics legal fight goes on and now he's juggling his sprint programme with playing a game he has no knowledge of. Until Friday's photo shoot with the News of the World, he'd never picked up a rugby ball. Judging by his hospital pass to Ryan McGoldrick on the pitch, there's a long way to go, although as one onlooker observed: "He can actually spin pass, so that's a start."

One of the Castleford trainers wondered aloud whether they'd have to extend the pitch, otherwise Chambers might run through the corrugated shed end and out into Wheldon Road. Chambers, wreathed in smiles and with his gold tooth gleaming in the glare of the camera lights, seemed to be loving every minute of yet another moment in the publicity spotlight. Mend-a-hose Ltd and Atkinson Fencing and Decking, two of the sponsors on Castleford's colourful shirt worn by Chambers, will have been loving it, too.

The air of unreality was maintained by coach Terry Matterson's head count of his fit men and conclusion that Chambers would probably play against Saints on the wing, most likely opposite Great Britain international Ade Gardner. If Tessa Sanderson had walked in at that moment, you could almost imagine Matterson tossing her a shirt.

Not for Castleford, but it could all end in tears for Chambers, if the first ball pumped his way by Sean Long and with a chasing tonne of St Helens beef flattens him. That would be Beijing up the shoot.

The Olympics in August remains his priority, but he has been forced to look at other options should his appeal fail. "I would like to get to Beijing - I'm getting on and am 30 on Saturday, and this may be my last chance," Chambers, who has consulted Martin Offiah for advice, said.

"But I am here to learn and see if I can grasp a different sport. I'm going to take it one day at a time and instead of running in a straight line I will be running left and right. I'm optimistic about what I can achieve. I'm competitive at heart and want to go out and do the best I can."

Those Castleford players not nursing their bruises after Sunday's 50-4 mauling by Bradford were there to greet their new team-mate. His month's unpaid trial starts with a gym session on Tuesday. Such is Castleford's battered state that they are unlikely to do any contact work this week, according to Matterson.

Bring on the Saints then ... but, no, Dwain, no helmet or padding. This isn't American Football. This is the real deal - if anything could be described as such in this unreal saga.

Comments

[peter]

Hello Harry Sunderalnd, excellent reflection dialect... do the Welsh now... please?

[wisenoble]

Alex Murphy said it is demeaning to League to even contemplate DC playing.

Is it really such great PR with a guy who only picked up a rugby ball for the first time last Friday and doesn't even know how many players in a League team? His main driver is to get a place in the 2008 Olympics and this circus distracts some of the flak whilst his advisors prepare the legal fight. Unless League is handbags he won't want to risk injury. Seems rather sad but Cas are being taken for a ride!

[harry Sunderland]

eee alreet pete tha nos i spake rate hant thy eard mick morgan after't cup win he said "i cant spake" I cant spake" so theyre tha nos Im rite

see thee

[Mr Sheen]

Great article, and thanks for the reminder. I must fix that hose. Who to call?

[Numptyboy]

Is the fool Chambers ? Yep, if he gets smashed by Saints and misses the Olympics.

[Cas Chris]

I thought it was April Fools Day tomorrow ?

[Numptyboy]

I can't think of any other rugby league player called Dwain apart from Dwayne Mann.
Will Chambers be as good as him, I wonder.
Cas can't go wrong, all this publicity and theyre not even paying him. Blimey its a no brainer.

[peter]

Chambers is clearly be mad, the coaches insane, and the post by harry Sunderland suggests he at least has no idea how people outside of his areas even speak... I would watch it, but it makes one think it'll be a circus, where an ahtlete desperate for credibility might get maimed in a team desperate for publicity, for the amusement of morons desperate to prove some bizzare geograpphicaly based concept of superior manhood.
Of course, he could go on, score ten tries and play a blinder, thus completely discretiding the sport of rugby league... Cant pass, catch, scrummage, maul or lineout, can't run a game plan, can't ruck... can run, so can play league!!!

[harry Sunderland]

eee alrret old luvs....get im down't ot bath tonite for a gallon or two lets see if iz suppin is up to it first, as soon as one o them saints forerds puts im dawn he'll be runnin alreet ,,straight back to London!!

[Mike Hunt]

I must take my hat off to Cas excellent publicity for them and our game If you really take this seriously then you take life to serious and need a holiday.
There is no way Chambers is going to take the fiield against Saints or anybody Its a stunt get over it have you all forgot the Ellery hanley stunt at Cas, masters of the PR they are.

[Lawrie Lee]

Meli is going to get owned by Chambers on Sunday

[Big Bully Booaza]

This is so surreal I keep thinking it's some kind of dream but a nightmare as I'm at work.

Simply put it makes Rugby league look like the perochial, poor relative of union desperate to trade on gimmicks and at a time when the product on the pitch, the success of people like the Harlequins RL academy staff and the performance of GB in the autumn tests had people from outside the sport taking us seriously.

Shame on you Cas.

[Smitty]

Chambers of Horrors if he plays against Saints. Has the world gone completely mad ?

[Crusher Cleal]

I think Castleford would do better with Judith Chalmers than Dwain Chambers, but good luck to him.

It's going to be an interesting week.