Quote: Omar Little "Just out of interest though - can anyone confim if the highlighted bit right? He started out at Milford which is pretty much spitting distance from Headingley and I'm sure I've heard McGuire in the past talking about how Richie and him played in the same side at Leeds from a very young age all the way to the first team.
I remember Richie went on loan to the wire for a while.'"
Rhinos call on teen spirit for big Saints clash
YEP - 28th August 2002
Teenager Richard Mathers could be in line for his Leeds Rhinos senior debut at St Helens on Friday after being recalled from a loan spell at Warrington Wolves. The 18-year-old Rhinos Academy star has made a big impression since joining the Wolves earlier this season, making a handful of senior appearances including a start against Wigan on Monday. He was due to stay with Warrington until the end of the season, but Leeds’ injury crisis has led to him being called back to Headingley.... snip..... Powell saidRichard Mathers is coming back after being at Warrington. He has had a chance and he has shown he can handle playing at Super League level. We need bolstering at the moment because of injuries and he has shown he can do a capable job. There is a chance he will play on Friday[/i.”
Mathers played his junior rugby with the Milford amateur club and had a spell at Warrington before linking up with the Rhinos’ Academy. He has played for England Academy and Great Britain schools, but has yet to make his Rhinos first team debut. Powell saidWarrington were very happy with him, he did a good job for them. He played a number of positions, six, wing, a bit of full-back and centre against Wigan on Monday. I thought he stood up very well in that game. He is a very strong character, very determined. He really wants to reach the top of the game and he works as hard as possible to make that happen. On the field his versatility is a big strength. He is a full-back, but he can play in a number of positions and do it well[/i.”
Mathers gets his chance after a Rhinos SOS call
YEP - 30th August 2002
It has been quite a week for teenager Richard Mathers – facing Wigan on Monday and St Helens on Friday, both with different clubs. Mathers was a member of the Warrington Wolves side beaten by Wigan on Monday, before being recalled from his loan spell and drafted into Leeds Rhinos’ senior squad. He will be back in front of the Sky TV cameras again this evening when he makes his Rhinos senior debut against Saints at Knowsley Road. The 18-year-old former Milford amateur admitted the phone call from Leeds asking him to return to Headingley had come as a bolt from the blue. Rhinos Academy boss Stuart Wilkinson made the initial call to see if Mathers was interested, before first team coach Daryl Powell got in touch. “[iIt was the last thing I expected after the game on Monday,” he said. “It was a bit of a shock and I didn’t believe it at first, but I snapped his hand off when he asked me to come back. Daryl said I held my own at Warrington and he thinks I can do a job for Leeds. I went to Warrington to prove a point and I’m really grateful they gave me a chance. David Plange was fantastic with me. I thought I went all right. I thought I needed first team rugby and Dave gave me the opportunity. I played in a number of positions for them and they were really pleased with me. They were reluctant to let me come back, but that’s how it goes.[/i” Mathers admitted making his Rhinos debut will be “a dream come true”. He saidI’ve been a Leeds fan as long as I can remember. I was a season ticket holder from the age of five or six and I used to stand in the South Stand. It is fantastic that I’ve got the opportunity to play for them. It will be unreal, especially against St Helens. Playing against Wigan on Monday and Saints on Friday is going to be an interesting week and one I won’t forget[/i.” Mathers will be hoping for a better result than his previous appearance against Saints just four weeks ago, when he was a member of the Warrington side beaten 72-2. “[iI know a bit about them, so I’m not jumping straight in[/i,” he said. “[iWe got hammered. I played a number of positions, I started on the wing but Sid Domic got injured so I played 60 minutes at six against Paul Sculthorpe. Although we lost 72-2 it was an invaluable experience. He is a world class player. I think it made me a better person and player, playing against Paul Sculthorpe. Tonight is going to be tough, but all being well it will prove the quality of the young players at Leeds. If we stand up I think we can really give them a run for their money. Daryl’s just told us to express ourselves and not go into our shells. He thinks we can do a good job. He believes in our talent, otherwise he wouldn’t put us in. I think we can turn them over if we all stick together and express ourselves the way we can[/i.” Though he was recalled because of an injury crisis, Mathers is adamant he is not just making up the numbers. “[iI’ve said to Daryl I don’t just want to be a stop gap,” he said. “I don’t want to play one game then go back in the Academy. Daryl has said that’s in my hands and I agree with him. I want to take the chance with both hands and hopefully keep my place[/i.”
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St Helens won Mathers' Leeds debut game at Knowsley Road 38 - 18.
