St Helens 28 – 8 Catalans Dragons: Player ratings and three major talking points

St Helens ran out 28-8 winners over Catalans Dragons in a tough and tenacious Super League fixture tonight.

But, there were a number of downsides as well to the opening Super League game as Catalans Dragons had one man sent off and another sin binned as Saints eventually ground down their opponents to register a stunning victory.

What were the player ratings and three major talking points?

1. Saints miss Coote’s kicking

Lachlan Coote often went under the radar for his superb goalkicking prowess in his three years at St Helens. But, it was obvious that the Australian was missed for his pinpoint accuracy with Lewis Dodd missing three conversions and Tommy Makinson one in the first-half.

2. Dodd looks effortless

Questions were asked of St Helens when the underrated Theo Fages left the Totally Wicked Stadium, but Lewis Dodd ran the show with a masterful performance. The halfback kicked ahead for himself in the first-half for a stunning try and then carved up the Dragons later in the game. He looks an incredible player.

3. Catalans’ discipline called into question

Catalans were like men possessed out there at the Totally Wicked Stadium tonight, but that sometimes boiled over with Dylan Napa being shown a red card for a shoulder charge on Mark Percival and Gil Dudson being shown a yellow early in the first-half for striking out. Did the Dragons go in too heavy?

St Helens
1 Jack Welsby – 9
2 Tommy Makinson – 9
4 Mark Percival – 8
23 Konrad Hurrell – 8
3 Will Hopoate – 7
6 Jonny Lomax – 7
7 Lewis Dodd – 9
8 Alex Walmsley – 8
9 James Roby – 9
10 Matty Lees – 7
11 Sione Mata’utia – 8
12 Joe Batchelor – 9
13 Morgan Knowles – 8
Substitutes
14 Joey Lussick – 7
15 LMS- 7
16 Curtis Sironen – 6
17 Agnatius Paasi – 8

Catalans Dragons
29 Sam Tomkins – 7
2 Tom Davies – 8
3 Samisoni Langi – 7
4 Dean Whare – 6
5 Fouad Yaha – 7
6 Mitchell Pearce – 5
7 Josh Drinkwater – 7
8 Gil Dudson – 6
9 Michael McIlorum – 6
22 Dylan Napa – 3
11 Matt Whitley – 6
12 Mike McMeeken – 7
13 Ben Garcia – 6
Substitutes
10 Julian Bousquet – 6
20 Tyrone May – 5
23 Jordan Dezaria – 7
28 Sam Kasiano – 6