Castleford Tigers star Rangi Chase rejects exit rumours
Last updated on .From the section Rugby League
Castleford Tigers stand-off Rangi Chase believes that he will be at the club next season, despite rumours linking him with a move away.
The 25-year-old told BBC Radio Leeds: "Apparently I'm going to Leeds and swapping with Rob Burrow, that's what I've been told I'm doing.
"It's pretty funny really because as far as I know, I'm staying at Cas."
Chase has been Castleford's stand-out player this season and was named in the Super League 2011 Dream Team.
He is the first Tigers player since Danny Nutley in 2006 to make the prestigious team, chosen by a panel of rugby league journalists and broadcasters.
Chase's contribution in helping Castleford to the Challenge Cup semi-final and the brink of the play-offs has led to inevitable rumours that he was the target of other clubs.
"People come up and say 'you're going to Leeds aren't you, straight swap for Rob Burrow'?
"And I say 'how do you know, you know more than me'.
"I'm staying at Cas as far as I know - you just let those rumours go around and play along with it."
Chase's inclusion in the Dream Team was just reward for an outstanding season, although the New Zealand Maori international admitted it was tinged with sadness at missing out on the play-offs on the final weekend of the regular season.
"It hasn't really sunk in, it'll probably hit in the next couple of days and I'll have a little sulk to myself.
"High point for me was probably the Exiles match and the semi-final of the Challenge Cup against Leeds. The atmosphere was awesome, unbelievable, and it just makes you want to get there again and hopefully kick the drop-goal this time and win it.
"It haunts me all the time and I couldn't sleep properly for a couple of weeks after that.
"I had to fly straight to Australia after it, and the whole trip I was thinking about."
Should the rumours prove to be false and Chase does remain with Castleford next season, it will be under a new coach.
Ian Millward is taking over from Terry Matterson, and Chase is looking forward to working with the former St Helens and Wigan coach.
"I think everyone is just keen for some fresh ideas and something new and to learn different things and look at things in a different way.
"You're always going to learn different things from different coaches and hopefully make you better players."
