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Catalan Dragons get the job done for under pressure Steve McNamara
- Super League Raw
- Mar 9, 2025
- 6 min read
Catalan Dragons 11 - 0 Leeds Rhinos
Saturday nights should be a time for relaxation, spent gazing across the room at the one you love, enjoying your favourite meal, and savouring the experience. However, this past Saturday presented a different scenario, as the menu featured what should have been an exhilarating contest between the Catalan Dragons, in search of their first victory, and the Leeds Rhinos, who had commenced the season on a strong note. Unfortunately, the match was marred by a series of errors, lacking the quality and flair one would hope for.
Nonetheless, several noteworthy moments emerged: Tariq Sims executed a formidable follow-up to last year's notorious tackle on George Williams, Theo Fages enhanced the team's structure and game management for the Dragons, and Reimis Smith demonstrated his skills with an impressive brace.
Let's relive tries and talking points:
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The Coaches Post Match Reaction
Steve McNamara
Brad Arthur
Social Media Reaction
Catalan Dragons
Wigan/Leigh, St Helens/Hull KR, Wigan/Warrington, HullFC/Leigh... All these matches have taken place and a great show, rugby at a very high level, of great intensity, technically remarkable. However, the bottom teams produce a far too poor a show. Tonight's match at Brutus is a perfect example. - Didier Testa
Fortunately, in defense it was good because in attack it's soporific, we sometimes had the impression that they didn't know what to do with the ball... still disappointing on this side I found... But the victory is here, that's what matters...Have a nice evening. Pascal Roca
Draft match, quite a few hand mistakes... still no play in the opposite 20 meters...
Remember that without an offside, we would have been punished by an attempt on a cover error. But a very big game from the front allows us to win. Victory is here, it's good but the main thing is the game. With Smith Cotric on one side it should turn out better than this...
Jo Sk
Leeds Rhinos
So here we go again with the " gonna be a long season". Seem's that saying has been said for years now! There is no change. What the eck has happened!
As a club we really are dire. Sad and hard to see . .
Yes, we'll win some games but we're a mid to low table team now and I can't see that changing for years. We'll not be challenging for anything full stop.
Sad state of affairs.
Phil Swales
Very disappointing. Far too many errors, we never looked interested. Old habits die hard, just too dull and not enough ball control.
Need to have a big session this week going back to basics.
I don't think now is the time to react. We've had a couple of bad performances but we have to look at ourselves and admit that we are a midtable side at the moment.
We've neglected our academy for "big names" that didn't turn up and had a merry-go-round of coaches
Stability is key. Build a plan for this 3 year rotation. I might not like IMG but it might allow us to build fornthe future.
Michael James Lockwood
I’m actually past the point of raging now I just can’t be bothered anymore. So I’m going for a new tactic. Genuine ideas. Now I’m all for “beasting” your group in training/ off season. Works in the army so should work here, but particularly in terms of off season training how’s about hooking up with an NRL outfit and doing some joint sessions. Teams that have A Grade++ level facilities like Souths or Broncos. It’s a chance to learn, listen collaborate and gain fresh perspectives. Oliver Deighton
The Final Word
The game was crucial for Steve McNamara, and his team rose to the occasion, effectively adapting to the conditions far better than the Rhinos. As the squad returns to fitness, it is now an appropriate time to evaluate both McNamara and this team. However, it is evident that they may struggle to cope with injuries should they arise again. Featherstone Rovers will be afforded the respect they deserve when they visit Perpignan for the Challenge Cup next weekend; nonetheless, this presents a valuable opportunity to enhance their attacking fluency before heading to The Jungle for Round 5 of the Super League.
Last night yielded several significant improvements for the Dragons' fans, notably the return of Reimis Smith, who delivered a commendable performance. Additionally, the presence of Theo Fages, a dedicated halfback, enhanced the team's game management, enabling Arthur Mourgue to transition back to fullback—a position that aligns more closely with his strengths. Furthermore, Chris Satae has proven to be much more impactful when coming off the bench rather than starting, a strategy that the Dragons should consider maintaining. However, a pressing concern remains: Should Ben Garcia be playing in the number nine position?
The Leeds Rhinos have secured two victories this season, including a notable record win in the Challenge Cup. However, it is important to note that these wins came against teams they were expected to defeat for various reasons. Alarm bells may have sounded during last week's match against the Tigers, where they conceded three tries in the final ten minutes.
It is essential for players to earn the right to don the blue and amber jersey. In this context, Jack Sinfield should have been given a starting position, while Matt Frawley needed to prove his place on the team. Perhaps, this situation has resolved itself, as Frawley has failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and will be unavailable for the upcoming match against Saints in the Cup next week.
It is challenging to envision the Rhinos as serious contenders for the Super League in 2025. The players' attitude will be crucial, as history has shown in various sports that when players are aware their coach will not be returning the following season, less professional athletes may begin to act inappropriately. While we are not suggesting that any Rhinos players are currently exhibiting such behaviour, it remains a concern that this mindset could potentially emerge.
On a more positive note, Cameron Smith's absence has afforded Brad Arthur the opportunity to assess various players for the number 13 position. Last week, Palasia made a notable contribution, and this week, Bentley has stepped into the role, with both athletes showcasing commendable performances.
The Gladiators who took the Field
Catalan Dragons
7 Arthur Mourgue
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Matthieu Laguerre
4 Reimis Smith
5 Nick Cotric
6 Luke Keary
21 Théo Fages
8 Tevita Pangai Jr
9 Ben Garcia
10 Julian Bousquet
11 Tariq Sims
12 Elliott Whitehead
13 Oliver Partington
Interchange
14 Alrix Da Costa
15 Tevita Satae
16 Romain Navarrete
19 Paul Séguier
Try Scorer: Smith (43, 72)
Tale of the Boot: Mourgue 1/2
Drop Goal: Keary (40)
Naughty Boy: Navarette (28) - Hip Drop
Leeds Rhinos
18 Jake Connor
23 Riley Lumb
3 Harry Newman
4 Ash Handley
27 Ethan Clark-Wood (D)
6 Brodie Croft
7 Matt Frawley
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Andy Ackers
10 Keenan Palasia
16 Morgan Gannon
12 James McDonnell
11 James Bentley
Interchange
14 Jarrod O’Connor
15 Sam Lisone
17 Cooper Jenkins
20 Jack Sinfield
Try Scorers: Left at home
Tale of the Boot: Didn't need them!
Naughty Boy: Connor (37) – Crusher Tackle
HOW IT WENT DOWN: 1-0; 7-0, 11-0
Man of the Match - The Super League Raw Trophy
3pts - Reimis Smith
2pts - Theo Fages
1pt - Chris Satae
Half-time: 1-0
Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 8,125
Key Performance Indicators:
Most Tackles – James Bentley - 47
100% Tackle Efficiency - Chris Satae, Arthur Mourgue, Connor Jenkins
Top Tackle Busts – Chris Satae & Reimis Smith - 5
Most Carries – Riley Lumb - 18
Most Metres - Nick Cotric - 133
Most Hard Metres - Julian Bousquet - 111
Most Clean Breaks – Reimis Smith, Oliver Partington, Chris Satae - 1
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