T : Joe Burgess 3, George Williams, Oliver Gildart, Zak Hardaker, Jarrod Sammut
G : Zak Hardaker 7
Catalans Dragons (0) 0
T :
G :
Where to start on this one eh? To be honest there is nothing more than I can add to a what we wrote on a number of occasions last season.
When it comes to big games away from home, this team doesn't have the ability to compete, let alone win.
The players may change, as had the coach, but the level of surrender which we saw in the latter days of Laurent's reign is still very much alive.
I'd hoped that some of the players coming into the club would be able to affect a better attitude, approach and level of performance, but it seems that soft underbelly would be in effect, even under Wayne Bennett.
It's tiring having to endure capitulation after capitulation and we can make excuses until the cows come home. The fact is that the players and the coaches are responsible for this and are the only ones who can fix it.
Is this our usual McNamara out posting? no... at least he has had the courage to stand up and call his players out for their attitude. Now whether that's to save his job or not, I don't know.
The facts are that as with last season, that early year positivity has long since evaporated and with other teams starting to pick up their can be genuine fears about getting pulled into a relegation battle.
Catalans cannot rely on London falling apart or Wigan and Leeds staying rubbish to preserve their Super league status.
This one had banana skin written all over it and it took some really determined effort from the Dragons to avoid defeat at the hands of Super league's rock bottom club.
After digging themselves out late on at Hull KR last week, the last thing they needed was a slow start, but yet again a performance was dominated by a slow departure from the traps.
We were two tries down, one a horrible interception thrown by a struggling Tony Gigot, before starting to show a level of performance where Foud Yaha scored a forwards try by trundling over close in.
There was still time for the impressive Konrad Hurrell to get over for Leeds before the proper comeback started.
Some nice hands saw Yaha back over the line for his second before Lucas Albert levelled it up and Sam Tomkins converted.
It was a lovely score by Albert who has had back to back impressive performances in the team. Let's hope that he gets the run he needs to try and convince the coach he is worth his spot. If you think he scored 4 tries in his last reserve team run out he has scored 6 in 3 matches now.
You can't ignore that.
The second half started with Dragons sloppiness again. The defence never looked set from a re-start and a cut out pass from Richie Myler saw Ash Handley completing his hat-trick.
At this point you feared for our mentality and whether we would do that most Dragons of things and capitulate.
But some great hands by Brayden Williame got us in on the left for Yaha to get his hat-trick.
A soft penalty got Leeds back on terms. But Tomkins put Yaha in after 74 minutes to get the winning score.
I am hyper critical, I know that, but there were a number of reasons this was an entertaining comeback win. Mainly to do with both teams defence.
There was also a couple of moments after we were ahead where silly penalties, and Robert Hicks' desire to give them could have seen Leeds take the win. The old Leeds would have taken advantage.
Plenty of big tests to come and I hope that we are up to them...
Catalans Dragons (16) 26
T : Fouad Yaha 4, Lucas Albert
G : Sam Tomkins 3
Leeds Rhinos (16) 22
T : Ash Handley 3, Konrad Hurrell
G : Liam Sutcliffe 3
T : Weller Hauraki, Joel Tomkins, Craig Hall
G : Craig Hall 2
Catalans Dragons (2) 18
T : Brayden Wiliame, Lucas Albert, Lewis Tierney
G : Sam Tomkins 3
Just after half time we were back to last seasons misery filled tweeting and wondering what on earth the players did in training.
We had just conceded the most basic of tries when brother of Sam, Joel Tomkins wandered past a number of our senior players, carrying the ball one handed, before dropping down to score.
We then managed to concede from a miss played pass in the opponents 20 where Craig Hall managed to outstrip the whole back line to score.
Yaha looked flat footed, Tomkins couldn't make ground, it was only Lewis Tierney who showed any likelihood of stopping Hall and he had to run from the opposite wing.
Our tries came from Brayden Williame who span and danced his way over on the left edge to get us in the game. Lucas Albert showed impressive backing up skills when man of the match Samisoni Langi broke a couple of tackles on the right wing and was put over.
The winning score came late on and secured an impressive comeback. Langi got to the line before dropping a kick in goal that he looked to follow up himself. However Tierney show remarkable pace to get their first and level the scores.
Sam Tomkins got the winning conversion.
What can you say about a match like this? It went some way to erasing the memory of Salford last weekend, but there is still a tendancy to drop off tackles and our players look quite heavy footed.
I am sure you already get that I am not keen on McNamara as coach, but if he did make some motivational and tactical tweaks during that second period to get us attacking more through Langi then he deserves some credit.
The real facts are that this was a vital win and two points and if it wasn't for Leeds and Wigan's current form we would be in relegation trouble.
I truly have no idea which Dragons side will turn up at Stade GB next week, or if they will be consistent during the match... let's see !
T : Jimenez, Nietche, Bernard, Gambaro, Sigismeau
G : Herrero 2
St Estève XIII Catalan (10) 32
T : Séguier, Martin, Mourgue, Franco 3
G : Guasch 4
Romain Franco is bag and bagged a hat-trick as Catalans won this derby match with Palau Broncos.
The finisher added to his tally and remains at the head of the try scorers in Elite 1. St Esteve needed all 80 minutes to beat Olivier Elima's improving side and the home team will be a little bit disappointed not to get the win.
A ding dong battle on a chilly afternoon shows both sides are in form and bodes well for the rest of the season.
We can talk about injuries both ahead and during the match as a reason for this performance and result, but the fact remains that Catalans have this sort of display in their locker.
The players and personnel might change, and arguably their quality might improve. However a few times a season they simply don't turn up and are suitable humbled as a result.
Laurent couldn't come close to solving it and despite Challenge Cup winning credentials, neither can Steve McNamara.
But rather than pontificate about our terribleness, I want to say well done to Salford and that I hope their travelling fans had a wonderful time.
Catalans Dragons (0) 0
T :
G :
Salford Red Devils (18) 46
T : Joey Lussick, George Griffin 2, Jake Bibby 2, Jackson Hastings, Niall Evalds, Ken Sio
G : Ken Sio 7
Six years ago, Scott Dureau was rocked by the news that he needed brain surgery to remove a tumour from behind his eye and required annual MRI scans to ensure the cancer had not returned. In late 2018, Scott attended a routine scan which revealed that the now 32-year-old father of two’s cancer had returned. The following day, Scott underwent emergency surgery to remove the six tumours on his brain. Post-operation, following multiple tests, the family received another blow – the cancer had spread to Scott’s liver.
Scott and his young family are an integral part of our rugby league family and are in immediate need of our assistance and support as they face adversity. Scott is approaching this challenge with the same attitude he took to the footy field. He is demonstrating great courage and positivity in what is a very difficult time.
Sam Tomkins slotted a late long range penalty to get Dragons over the line in this ding dong battle with Warrington Wolves Saturday evening.
A nervy affair had started with the Dracs getting out of the blocks rapidly and two scores ahead through Brayden Williame and Kenny Edwards.
Stefan Ratchford kept the Wire in touch at the break with a converted try, but the key score was Tony Gigot putting over a field goal as the half time hooted approached.
It was nip and tuck after the break with Declan Patten scoring the try of the match when forward Chris Hill flung the most delicate of passes out of the back of his hand. Watch the highlights below if you didn't see it.
But from a point behind the Dragons won a controversial penalty at around half way when Michael McIlorum went over.
The commentators were a bit unhappy with how easy he went down. I was happy to take it though as we'd been on the receiving end of enough of those.
Tomkins kept his nerve and kicked the penalty to get us into a lead which we held on to.
So that's wins from two at home, and two defeats from two away.
Fairly standard Dragons fair.
Catalans Dragons (15) 23
T : Brayden Wiliame, Kenny Edwards, Rémi Casty
G : Sam Tomkins 5
DG : Tony Gigot
Warrington Wolves (6) 22
T : Stefan Ratchford, Daryl Clark, Ryan Atkins, Declan Patton
G : Stefan Ratchford 3
DG :
