Matty Beharrell on his Super League nightmare and new club ambitions

Matty Beharrell says his Super League debut keeps him awake some nights – but it fuels the fire in his belly as he hopes to lead Dewsbury to the Championship play-offs.

The 27-year-old, who has recently joined Dewsbury, was named the Under-18s Man of Steel in 2012. He made his first team debut for Hull KR the following season.

It was a proud moment for Beharrell to make his Super League debut after years of hard work. However, it didn’t go how he had probably dreamt the night before.

Hull KR suffered their heaviest home defeat in Super League to Wigan in 2013. The Warriors ran in 15 tries to demolish the Robins 84-6 at Craven Park.

“I’d rather not talk about it!” Beharrell jokingly said when asked about his solitary Super League appearance at the Championship Media Day.

“I have gone down in history but for all the wrong reasons for Hull KR’s biggest defeat at home in Super League! It was good though because it was something I always wanted to do (making my debut) and I managed to do it.”

That would be the only first team appearance Beharrell would make for Hull KR before joining Newcastle Thunder in 2015 after a loan spell the previous season.

When asked if that Super League appearance sometimes keeps him awake at night, Beharrell replied: “It does actually because that’s the one chance that I had and obviously it didn’t go the way I wanted but that’s sport. It took me on a different path and I am where I am now so it is what it is.”

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Beharrell has impressed in the lower leagues in his position of half-back. He was a standout player for Swinton and Keighley before his move to League 1 side Doncaster in 2018.

The 5ft 4in playmaker made the move up to the Championship in the off-season with Dewsbury. He made his first appearance for the Rams in last Friday’s pre-season friendly defeat to his former club Hull KR.

Beharrell has a burning ambition to help Lee Greenwood’s side reach the play-offs in the Championship this season.

He said: “We want to make the play-offs.

“Like Batley last year, they started really well and momentum is a big thing in rugby league so if we can start well and keep playing well and be competitive then we’ll see what happens.

“I don’t see why we can’t get in the play-offs but as long as we’re competitive every week then I think results will take care of themselves really. ”

Beharrell says he has been enjoying learning from former Great Britain international Paul Sykes, who has taken on a player-coach role with the Rams this year.

Beharrell added: “He is always there. He is always talking to you, helping you and giving you pointers here and there.

“He’s been there and done it so you’d be silly not to listen to him.”

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