CENTRE OF ATTENTION
Mamo will keep playing joker
TV VIEWERS will rub their hands in delight if madcap Jake Mamo is named man of the match tonight.
Mamo in a live interview is often an accident waiting to happen for Sky bosses, with his unpredictable comments and occasional bad language.
But there is no doubting that the 27-year-old Castleford centre is one of the most watchable characters in the game.
And the good news is he plans to keep on sharing his zany outlook on life to give supporters a laugh.
The Aussie said: “Life is so much better when you smile and it’s important to try and be happy.
“It’s important that we have fun with the fans. It definitely needs to happen more. Interviews can be boring so a couple of swear words and things helps shake them up.”
Former Warrington head coach Steve Price once famously said he felt like “Tiny Tim going on stage after Metallica” after one particularly bizarre Mamo interview.
Mamo’s larger-than-life personality won over Wolves fans in his three years at the club, before his off-season switch to tonight’s opponents Cas. And last year’s Wolves’ Players’ Player of the Year is hoping they will give him a good reception on his first return to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
He said: “People did not see the whole picture of why I left. Warrington never offered me a new deal, which not everyone knew. But that’s how the business goes and I have no hard feelings. I’m enjoying it at Castleford but I am excited to play against Warrington in front of their fans – hopefully they will welcome me back.
“The whole game has got a lot on it with Daryl Powell up against his old team and players having swapped clubs.”
Powell took Cas favourites Peter Mata’utia and Oliver Holmes with him to Warrington, although Holmes is suspended for tonight’s clash after a yellow card for his high shot in Saturday’s win over Leeds.
Mamo hopes to establish himself as a centre this year, with Cas head coach Lee Radford describing him as “freakishly athletic”.
“I get that from my mum who was a very good athlete. I’m not too skilful but I am athletic,” said Mamo. “I want to play centre – it’s a lot more simple. You have to make too many decisions at full-back.” Castleford went down 26-16 to Salford last Friday but Mamo is confident they can do well this season.
He said: “Feasibly we can make the semifinals this year and then who knows what happens from there.” Powell, who spent eight years as Cas coach, said: “I spent some fantastic years there but you move on.
“I have a lot of respect for them but it’s just another game.”