Catalans Dragons interim head coach Ryan Sheridan has highlighted his side’s lack of ‘resilience’ in the home loss to Leigh Leopards as he offered a pretty bruising verdict after the defeat.
Les Dracs won away to Leigh earlier in the Super League season but they lost 33-18 at the Stade Gilbert Brutus with the Leopards’ pack putting in a very strong showing, and half-back Adam Cook having his best game playing from behind those forwards.
At 18-14 down, Cook nailed a 40/20 which helped set up Joe Ofahengaue’s go-ahead try and from there Catalans shipped two more tries and a drop goal as the Dragons folded late on.
Speaking post-match on Sky Sports, Sheridan was asked what the difference between the two sides was, a question he answered honestly: “Some resilience, really. I thought a lot of the first half would have been really poor and I wasn’t sure what team we had out there, what we were doing to ourselves.
“I thought that the first team that got control of the game would go on and win it. The second half we showed a little bit more steel about us but I just thought we were poor. It was pretty disappointing.”
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Catalans Dragons lack of steel highlighted by coach
Sheridan admitted that certain positives can be taken but ultimately he was left asking what his team is about, and if they are resilient enough to compete in Super League.
He said: “There’ll be little bits that we’ll take from it but for us as a group, we’re trying to find out what sort of team we have. You look at that and it’s like, where’s our resilience?
“We need to do much better in a few areas but I think it’s really disappointing. Really disappointing.”
With a break for the Challenge Cup, Catalans will regroup before away trips to Wakefield Trinity and York Knights and the interim coach said all the focus will be on selecting a 17 that can compete.
“We need some troops, we need some players, we need some players back,” the interim said, adding: “We need to pick a team that’s going to be far more resilient, especially in regards to defence and when we’re under pressure.
“That’s the main starting point for me, is to get the right players out on the field. Then from there, we can work on from there but obviously, there’s a fair bit to work on.
“There’s a performance in there, there’s a good team in there, but I think we have to work far harder, like I mentioned, about being a bit more steely around certain areas of our game.”
