“I don’t…” – Steve McNamara dumbfounded by yellow card against Leeds Rhinos

After defeat to Leeds Rhinos, Catalans Dragons Head Coach Steve McNamara reflected on why his side came up short in the game losing their 100% record for the second year in a row to Rohan Smith’s Rhinos.

In the end, McNamara felt his side only had themselves to blame as he cited discipline and a lack of composure in attack as the factors behind their defeat.

He said to Sky Sports: “Discipline, ultimately. I think it was strange. I’m sure we’ve all been here three times in a row, but I feel like we dominated large parts of the game. But lacked discipline at certain stages, so I’m disappointed.

“I thought we were a bit blunt in the first half in particular. I thought it was a slow game. We couldn’t really find any rhythm in the tap there. We had plenty of field position but we couldn’t really get any points. And then the age of the back to back tries, you know, and the momentum shifted massively.

“But I thought response at the start of the second half was really, really good. I thought the carers were intent, we spread the game out, we looked more dangerous. But also we needed to collect a kick-off and then we’re back here, the game’s back on again. So, I remember just last 20 minutes, I said this is probably an issue from both sides, I don’t think it’s anything major, it was four yellow cards for both sides and that’s the way it went.”

McNamara questions yellow card against Leeds Rhinos

McNamara was largely happy to accept his defeat but did question Tariq Sims’ yellow card. He was sin binned for a high tackle on Harry Newman as the Leeds centre scored.

McNamara said: “Well, there might be, I don’t know what Tariq Sims is supposed to do on there, trying to save the tackle and get his hand on the ball, which I thought he did, get his hand on the ball. We have a couple there, with the games now, with the yellow cards possibly, but I think that’s sufficient, the yellow cards, we’ve had that conversation, so we’ll see.”