Catalans Dragons right now seem a long way off the lofty standards they set themselves last year as they reached the Grand Final.
The Dragons have been struggling lately and things got worse yesterday as the French side were surprisingly defeated 46-14 by the Salford Red Devils in their own backyard.
The headline from the game was of course Salford making their way back into the top six at Castleford’s expense but it also leaves Catalans top four status – which was once seen as nailed on – in danger should Leeds win two more games than the Dragons in the final three.
In order for Catalans to secure their place in the top four and be a threat in the play-offs, Steve McNamara must turn things around after being “embarrassed and ashamed” by the defeat last night.
“We are embarrassed and ashamed by our performance tonight,” McNamara said after the game, “I thought we started okay but the ease at which we conceded three tries was alarming.
“At the start of the second half, some things went against us and then the ease at which we conceded tries after that was equally if not more alarming.
“The ease at which Salford broke us, some of the softest, easiest tries. Credit to them. Everyone is going to be looking to us now and talking about us but Salford are in a rich vain of form and played well but it’s unacceptable from us to perform like that in a game of that importance.
“We’re angry and upset about what we’ve done there tonight. We’ve built a reputation that we’re a tough team to play against but tonight was anything but and that’s the bit that hurts. We were way too easy to beat tonight.”
