Catalans Dragons were given a reality check on Friday night as they were beaten 28-10 by the newly promoted Bradford Bulls at Odsal, says Joel Tomkins.
The Dragons were dismal at points of the game in West Yorkshire with errors and a lack of discipline letting them down at key moments in the contest. Tomkins’ side missed 31 tackles in the first half alone and also gave away seven penalties, which Bradford routinely punished them for.
Waqa Blake scored twice on the night, while Andy Ackers and Caleb Aekins also touched down, and Joe Mellor kicked three first half penalties, too.
The French side managed to get over the line twice in the second half through Toby Sexton and Solomona Faataape, but it wasn’t enough to safe face on a tough evening at Odsal for Tomkins and his side.
“We just turned up with the wrong mentality so that’s probably on me,” the Catalans boss said after the game, fronting up and taking responsibility. “Credit to Bradford, they totally outplayed us in every department, they outplayed the referee and they outplayed us and we just couldn’t go with it.
“We played a bit soft and they got off to a flyer. When you turn up with that mentality and you lose all the 50-50 calls and credit to Bradford, they deserved it.
“I think after last week maybe we gave the players a little too much credit and maybe they turned up tonight thinking it was going to happen. Bradford turned up absolutely desperate to win and they taught us a lesson in that.
“Our mentality was just all wrong and you could see that after 20 minutes and then we start making things up and the 50-50 calls go against you and that builds frustration. A lot came down to the start of that game and it just snowballed from there.
“Credit to Bradford, a great night and turnout for them. I’m pleased for them as a club to be back in Super League. We have to dust ourselves off and it’s going to be a long eight days to get ready for next week.”
Asked how he will get his side back on track next week as St Helens make the trip to Perpignan, he added: “We’ll train hard, it will be a long week and it’s probably the reality check that we might need early in the season.
“Hopefully later on in the year we can look back at this as a pivotal point for us because we probably thought we were at a level, after last week, which we’re nowhere near.”
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