“Hardest we’ve had to work all season” – Catalans Dragons grind out win against St Helens

Catalans Dragons and St Helens put on a show in the South of France with the two sides trading blow for blow in a brilliant advert for just how tough and intense Super League can be.

Steve McNamara’s side took home the spoils as they won 14-8 which sends them to the top of Super League and leaves St Helens in fifth place, just behind Hull KR, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves on points difference.

It promised to be an excellent game with the two sides sitting in the top two heading into Round Seven and with good weather conditions and a fresh track it seemed likely that some classy rugby would be played.

That was the case at times but for the majority of the 80 minutes, the game was one of attrition and hard yards, neither side willing to back down, with the clash resembling playoff intensity, if not quite playoff quality.

Mistakes hampered both sides with the momentum constantly swinging. Still, ultimately it was the home side who managed to edge in front and retain that lead, grinding out the final 15 minutes following Matt Ikuvalu’s go-ahead try.

Steve McNamara has since spoken to Sky Sports on just how gruelling a win it was, explaining: “We’ve had all sorts of difficulties before this game and during the game as well. I thought it was the first half all season where we’ve had to work as hard as that, defend as hard as that, tackle as hard as that.

“We’ve been happy with aspects of our game but I thought that it was a real test tonight given what he’d had before the game, so to come away with the win, we’re really happy with it.”

St Helens rue missed opportunities

The first half that McNamara spoke of was certainly the half that St Helens got the better of with the Red Vee throwing all sorts of shape at the hosts, ultimately seeing them rewarded with Tommy Makinson’s controversial try just before halftime.

It seemed that the energy was sapped from St Helens at the halftime break though as they failed to replicate the same intensity which allowed Catalans to get their own foothold in the game.

One man who stepped up massively was hooker Alrix Da Costa, taking on the number nine role in the absence of Micky McIlorum as well as taking on extra organising duties following Jordan Abdull’s hamstring injury.

Da Costa orchestrated much of the Dragons’ attack and was very controlled, even drilling in Abdull-esque grubber kicks and for his efforts, he was awarded Man of the Match, something that delighted Steve McNamara/

“I’m really happy to see Alrix get Man of the Match. He’s a kid who has come in, we obviously all miss Micky McIlorum when he doesn’t play, but Alrix has been superb,” the head coach stated.

He also revelled in the atmosphere with a huge crowd at the Stade Gilbert Brutus and the game televised on BBC Three as well as Sky Sports, but it’s an event that’s must-see in person according to McNamara.

“It’s awesome. I say it every time, I wish more people could see it live and that people from Sky and BBC could be across here live to see it. It’s an incredible atmosphere, you could sense it before and during the game. It’s just something special and different.”