Catalans Dragons have laid down another marker by defeating the Wigan Warriors 18-10 tonight for Wigan it means that their unbeaten run in the league at home ends and also ensures that they have lost two of their opening four.
Highlights
Ma’u powers over
After threatening runs from the lively and quick Arthur Mourgue, a strong run and spin from Manu Ma’u up against Brad Singleton allowed him to cross as e returned to the side.
Dragons find space out wide
Adam Keighran has been one of the best signings of the season and we saw that again as he helped create the overlap down the left that enabled Arthur Romano to stroll in.
Key yellow card
After being near perfect for the first 40, Catalans gave away a crucial penalty on the cusp of halftime as Manu Ma’u was penalised for a late hit on Harry Smith and was yellow carded. It allowed the Warriors to trim the lead to 12-2 and gave them a man advantage to start the second half.
Smith support yields try
Often we see a man advantage exploited out wide but after chancing their arm out wide, it was a short ball to Kaide Ellis down the middle that allowed the prop to pop through the line and find Smith with an offload to score.
Chaos and penalties
Kicks were causing chaos in the swirling wind and this was having a profound impact on proceedings as were the penalties received which created huge swings in possession and territory. One penalty allowed the Warriors to trim the deficit all the way down to 12-10.
May magic makes Ma’u try
A smart play from Tyrone May to kick ahead early in the tackle count saw Manu Ma’u race ahead and pick up the ball before stepping passed Jai Field and having the strength to get the ball down for a brace in an up and down game for the former Hull FC man.
Inches away
A number of times Wigan were inches away with their most reliable scorers. Before Ma’u’s second, Liam Marshall, who had scored eight tries in the opening three games, was close to grounding a kick after a deflection then a smart kick from Smith looked set to lead to a Bevan French try as he chased but he couldn’t grab hold.
Johnstone wins the game
Tom Johnstone won the game for the Dragons but not in the way you would expect. Usually a try scorer, this time he came up with a terrific try saver on Jake Wardle as he looked to be headed over for a try that could have given the Warriors a chance at a comeback.
Talking Points:
Errors galore
Wigan made hard work of tonight because of the errors they made. Catalans weren’t faultless but oddly despite being from the South of France handled the conditions far better than their opponents.
Both sides show strong defence
The teams who will compete at the end of the season are sides who can defend their line and both sides showed tonight that they can do that which seems to indicate that they could both compete at the end of the season.
Inconsistent Wigan
A side many felt would be the closest to St Helens in 2023 and possible champions, the Warriors have looked the part in Rounds Two and Three but in Round One and Four showed some surprising inconsistency that they need to iron out of their game.
Threats nullified
Catalans were brilliant at managing the threats Wigan usually pose embodied by the fact that Marshall didn’t add to his eight tries whilst the Warriors only scored once and that was when the Dragons were down to 12.
Keighran a superb signing
Adam Keighran has been one of the best signings of the season. He is a creative spark and looks at home in the halves let alone in his natural centre position.
1 Jai Field – 5
2 Bevan French – 5
3 Toby King – 5
4 Jake Wardle – 5
5 Liam Marshall – 6
6 Cade Cust – 6
7 Harry Smith – 5
8 Brad Singleton – 5
9 Sam Powell – 6
14 Mike Cooper – 5
11 Willie Isa – 6
12 Liam Farrell – 6
13 Morgan Smithies – 6
Substitutes
15 Kaide Ellis – 6
16 Ethan Havard – 5
17 Kai Pearce-Paul – 6
20 Patrick Mago – 5
Catalans
1 Arthur Mourgue – 6
2 Tom Davies – 6
19 Arthur Romano – 7
4 Matthiue Laguerre – 6
24 Tom Johnstone – 8
6 Tyrone May – 7
3 Adam Keighran – 7
8 Mike McMeeken – 6
9 Michael McIlorum – 6
10 Julian Bousquet – 6
12 Paul Seguier – 6
26 Manu Ma’u – 8
13 Ben Garcia – 7
Substitutes
15 Mickael Goudemand – 6
18 Tiaki Chan – 7
28 Ugo Tison – 6
23 Jordan Dezaria – 6
