Castleford fade as Dragons show what they are capable of

 Where to start with this one eh?

I was about ready to take my foamy cool beer and head out into the garden to take in some rays rather than watch this match. 

Castleford were hitting us at over a point a minute until the quarter hour mark before we managed to battle our way back into it. 

The performance of Israel Folau on the left edge and his desire to include Tom Davies outside him was key to the swinging of momentum. 

The Cas sin bin before half time also helped leaving them short handed in the boiling heat of Leeds. 

The second half was more of the same and as terrible as we were against St Helens last week, we were awesome against Cas this. 

So what can we take from this performance? 

Not a lot really, I think that we are in for a roller coaster ride (as usual!!) for the rest of the year. 

Some bloke is making his debut... maybe

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

The Folau Pledge

On the back of yesterday's announcement by the club and subsequent editorial on this site, our editorial team decided to try to turn this into something positive.

Impotent rage is simply that, and a waste of emotion to boot. Instead, we're going to try to turn our attention to making sure some good comes out of this all.

This writer is making a pledge.
For every minute Israel Folau plays for the Dragons this year, I will donate 10p to charity.

The charity we've chosen is the Albert Kennedy Trust.
They do great work with vulnerable young LGBTQ+ people. 24 percent of homeless young people identify as LGBT. Of those people, 77 percent believe that coming out to their parents was the main factor for their homelessness. This charity aims to help those people and last year they provided 6,075 nights of accommodation to vulnerable LGBT young people.

Each week, we'll update the running total and include YOUR donations too. Pledge for a game - maybe when your team is playing the Dragons - for a month, for the season, whatever. Maybe just chip an idle two quid if you can at some point between now and the end of the season. Whatever you feel.
However you wish to join in, DONATE HERE and send us a screenshot of your receipt on twitter or the messageboard and we'll add your amount to our totaliser (widget on the homepage coming soon).


Please share widely and join in if you can. Let's help make a difference and get something good out of this whole sorry mess.