T : Goffin (3), Dauset (2), Llandri, Jobe, Belmaaziz, Castano
G : Estève (8)
There was a place in the quarter finals of the Coupe de France at stake in this one and the Dragons had to come from behind to ensure qualification on the road.
Fortunately the Dragons performance was able to move the emphasis from off the field shenanigans to on field victory as we got some brief rest-bite from Folaugate.
Dragons Catalans (20) 36
T : Sam Tomkins (3), Israel Folau, Samisoni Langi, Fouad Yaha
G : James Maloney (6)
Castleford Tigers (12) 18
T : Derrell Olpherts, Cheyse Blair, James Clare
G : Richardson (3)
The fact that the man the news crews travelled across the world to see scored with his first touch in Superleague shouldn't be allowed to detract from the brilliant performance of Sam Tomkins who bagged a hat-trick with some proper hard running from the back.
There were points in the match where defending seemed optional for both sides.
All of Castleford's try's seemed to come from defensive howlers the home side made.
But that's being pedantic. The first win is on the board and whilst there was still enough to suggest it will be a long season for the Dragons, we will take the points and move on.
After a couple of weeks of soul searching I have finally decided to break cover and offer my thoughts on what's been occurring.
It has been a really difficult time for Rugby League, Catalans Dragons and on a smaller scale this website.
John and I have always been proud to be an outpost of Catalan fans in the UK and with the creation of the UK Supporters Club last year things were starting to build and grow organically.
Of course we wanted me people to read the site and more people to show an interest. Not like this though.
In the days after Israel Folau signed for the club we were fielding media requests and seeing site traffic the likes of which dwarfed the days after our Challenge Cup Final win.
The Press Association spoke to me and I found myself like a Premiership footballer trying to answer questions by not answering questions.
With hindsight, the postponement at Wakefield was probably a good thing for Dragons with time to process the anger directed at them.
Everyone's favourite second team is now the one all love to hate. That is going to take some getting used to for us.
Incredibly though some of the headlines have moved off Folau and onto Anthony Gelling, such is the way the media works.
But with the potential for the Aussie to debut at the weekend, all eyes with be on Stade Gilbert Brutus tomorrow.
Where am I at with it now?
I fundamentally disagree with the signing and I think that Steve McNamara has made a terrible decision. But regular readers will know that I have not wanted him coaching my team since day one.
If not even a trophy can change my view, this certainly won't.
I am not going to lie, I did spent time googling which Super League club is closest to South Lincolnshire and offered the family the option to change teams. Something that is alien to me as I am of the camp that says you pick a team you stick with it.
But after seeing that its almost equidistant from our house to Hull FC, Castleford, Wakefield and London I think I am going to stick with Dragons but at a distance.
Once Folau is gone and once McNamara is gone then I hope my passion returns. For now though the behaviour of some in the corridors of power at the Dragons has pissed me off to the extent I now longer look forward to matches and no longer anticipate trips to see my team play.
O'Neills have already made their feelings known on the matter, but its worth reiterating that any merchandise I was planning to buy for my family this season wont be happening and the money donated to our charity of choice.
However, amongst all of this, a season is taking place.
We (and I still just about use that word to describe the Dragons) play Castleford at home tomorrow and here is the squad.
The squad
2. Lewis TIERNEY
3. Samisoni LANGI
4. Israel FOLAU
5. Fouad YAHA
6. James MALONEY
7. Josh DRINKWATER
8. Rémi CASTY
9. Micky McILORUM
11. Matt WHITLEY
12. Joel TOMKINS
13. Benjamin GARCIA
14. Julian BOUSQUET
17. Benjamin JULLIEN
20. Lucas ALBERT
21. Paul SEGUIER
22. Arthur ROMANO
23. Antoni MARIA
24. Jason BAITIERI.
27. Gavin MARGUERITE
28. Sam KASIANO
29. Sam TOMKINS
This is going to get uglier and much worse before a resolution is found.
The BBC is reporting that Hull KR owner Neil Hudgell is threatening to sue the Dragons for any loss of earnings relating to the Catalans signing Israel Folau.
You can read the full article here. But with an unveiling cancelled in Perpignan and a meeting of Superleague Chairmen tomorrow, it's far from done and dusted that the player will ever make an appearance for the club.
Where this will leave Bernard Guasch who has repeatedly said in the past that the English clubs are out to get him is not known.
I will be honest and say there have been times over the last week where I have been thinking that investing my time, money and interest in another club would be preferable.
After this shambles, the transfer window for my family and I remains open. Get in touch if your club needs supporters.
But I am old school and am cut from the cloth that says when you pick a team you stick with a team.
How Steve McNamara retained his job last season remains the best magic trick I have seen since David Blaine was suspended over the River Thames in a box.
It defies belief. He got a lucky run to win the Challenge Cup final of 2018 but even then managed to ship out that seasons best player in Josh Drinkwater and replace him with Matty Smith... How'd that one work out Steve?
We have gone from playing some of the most exciting rugby in the division to some of the worst and if anyone was looking at us as a playoff club this year, you want to give your head a shake.
We are in a battle to stay up and need to hope Toronto keep the level of performance they put in on Sunday.
It's not just McNamara that's at fault here though. The club seems to be carnage from the meat cleaver wielding owner down.
Recruitment seems a joke.... Remember Josh Drinkwater from a couple of paragraphs ago? he got brought back once the club realised Matty Smith needed a lot of time to get fit. Confused?
You will be.
Joel and Sam Tomkins seemed to bring the worst out of each other, especially in a McDonalds... so they spent some time apart with Samkins in France with us and Joelkins at Hull KR. This winter the club felt they should be back together... in a beach resort with loads of bars.
So far so good, but there is still plenty of time for that to go nuclear.
All of this bizarre, bizarre behaviour has been knocked into a cocked hat by the awful decision to sing Israel Folau. You will all have read John D's excellent pieces on this site about that issue and seen we are committed to trying to push an agenda that is against hatred, so no more needs adding on that.
However throwing all of this in the mix, it's probably very little surprise that Dragons were beaten heavily by Huddersfield.
Catalans Dragons (6) 12
T : Fouad Yaha, Sam Tomkins
G : James Maloney 2
Huddersfield Giants (16) 32
T : Joe Wardle, Jermaine McGillvary 2, Aidan Sezer, Louis Senior
G : Aidan Sezer 6
Where do we go from here?
Well Wakefield actually... and I fear another hiding is coming.
