Super League

Catalans Dragons v St Helens verdict as Jonny Lomax kicks two drop goals in dramatic victory

by
Will Jackson
March 29, 2025

Jonny Lomax kicked two drop goals to give St Helens a dramatic 14-13 win over Catalans Dragons in the south of France.

Here’s our verdict.

Action

St Helens fans haven’t had a lot to cheer in Perpignan in recent years with Saints losing their last six games in the south of France. They were up on their feet early this time around, though, with Paul Wellens’ side putting themselves 12-0 up inside 10 minutes at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Tristan Sailor was the man who scored both tries and he had the work of Jack Welsby to thank on both occasions as the full-back sliced open the Dragons. The first came on the back of a Welsby break, handing off Reimis Smith before slipping through a gap and putting Sailor over the line.

Welsby broke down the other side for St Helens’ second before watching on as Alex Walmsley found Sailor with the offload.

Catalans needed that second to wake up, though, and it was former Saints man Tommy Makinson who set up their first of the night, stepping inside and chipping into the in-goal area before seeing the ball bounce over the head of the Saints defender and into the hands of Sam Tomkins.

With the wind willing them down the field, Catalans seized control of the contest, dominating field position and laying the platform for Tomkins to score their second with the full-back showing his class. Stepping off his left foot, Tomkins cut back against the grain to deceive the Saints line and touch down despite the attentions of Welsby.

The visitors thought they had made the perfect start to the second half as Dayon Sambou touched down only to see the effort ruled out for an offside.

And, after seeing Tomkins level the scores from the boot, Catalans’ Bayley Sironen had an effort chalked off, too.

With seven minutes to go, Jonny Lomax put Saints one point to the good with a precise drop goal effort. Luke Keary returned fire a minute later to level the scores once more.

But, with less than two remaining on the clock, Lomax produced the goods once more to hand the Saints their fourth win of the season and their first win in Perpignan since 2018.

Star man

Sam Tomkins. He might have been on the losing team, but Tomkins showed his class on so many occasions during the contest, scoring both Catalans’ tries on the night.

Good day for

Paul Wellens. Having lost to Hull KR and Warrington Wolves in successive Super League games Saints were starting to be questioned but Wellens’ side showed their grit and determination in France to get the result.

Bad day for

Harry Robertson. Picked up a head knock in the first minute of the contest and failed the resulting HIA to rule him out for the rest of the contest.

Bigger picture

Saints got the win but it was a far from perfect showing and while they did show moments of brilliance, they were frustrating at times, too, as their attack struggled to fire. Wellens still has plenty of work to do with this side, but a win in such circumstances could be the catalyst this team needs.

Catalans have now lost four of their opening six games and McNamara knows his side must bounce back next time out in Super League against Huddersfield Giants, with a Challenge Cup quarter-final against Salford Red Devils to think about first.

Teams

Catalans Dragons: Sam Tomkins; Tommy Makinson, Matthieu Laguerre, Reimis Smith, Nick Cotric; Luke Keary, Theo Fages; Tevita Pangai Jr, Alrix Da Costa, Julian Bousquet; Bayley Sironen, Elliott Whitehead, Ollie Partington.

Bench: Arthur Romano, Chris Sate, Paul Seguier, Franck Maria

St Helens: Jack Welsby; Jon Bennison, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Dayon Sambou; Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax; Alex Walmsley, Moses Mbye, Matty Lees, Matt Whitley, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Bench: Daryl Clark, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney.