Man on Offiah
Last updated: 1st May 2008
Dwain Chambers: First look
It's like Chambers v Rugby League. Will he get knocked out in the first, or will he go the distance?
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Four weeks ago when Dwain Chambers signed for Castleford, many people dismissed it as a publicity stunt and said he would never play the game.
However those doubters would have to eat their words as Chambers made his debut for Castleford reserves against York City Knights.
So just how well did he perform? Boots 'n' All took along Martin Offiah, one of the greatest wingers of all time, to assess Chambers' performance.
Interest certainly had not died as the kick-off had to be delayed for the fans to get in...most of them coming along to watch Chambers.
"It's like the atmosphere before a big fight," said Offiah on Boots 'n' All.
"It's like Chambers v Rugby League. Will he get knocked out in the first, or will he go the distance?
"I didn't expect to see him get on as early as he did, but he must be keen to get on. I was definitely impressed with his first touch of the ball. He knows how to play a ball correctly - he plays it a lot better than Andy Gregory.
"He looks a bit tired and that has proved my point. A lot of people said he would have problems with the physical side of the game - taking the ball up and making tackles.
"I have said all along that those are not the problems he needs to be concerned about. He needs to worry about being a rugby player - being in the right position when you are tired, getting off the floor quickly. These are things that are built into a rugby player over years of playing the game."
Chambers put him some solid runs and was not afraid to take the contact in the tackle or with the ball.
"He is not shirking, and he is having a go," added Offiah.
"He has got something to prove, he has probably had a lot of people question his heart, questioning his desire.
"You can't ask anymore of someone than to pick the ball up and have a go. That is what he is doing."
After the game Chambers was clearly delighted that he had finally made his debut and seemed to enjoy the experience.
"I loved every single moment of it, getting stuck in, the team camaraderie it was great," said Chambers.
Offiah said he would have liked to have seen them give him the ball in some open space rather than bringing him into the scrum.
"Yes, but I have to get a feel for everything," responded Chambers.
"I had my initiation in the fire and I have jumped out of it with no burns - apart from a bit of a stinger but that is part and parcel of rugby and I am looking forward to continuing."
And the final verdict from Offiah?
"He did not struggle in the area where a lot of people thought he would struggle. He struggled in the areas that I thought he would i.e. his fitness where he struggled even more than I thought he would and he also struggled in his positional play.
"As soon as he got fatigued he did not know where to go and looked disorientated. Those are areas that can be corrected, it just takes time.
"Good luck to him, but if you asked me if he was going to score as many tries as I did, then I would have to say no."
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