Catalans' Dragons French contingent

[JasonE]

They did themselves proud apart from the out of position Raguin, it's a shame the imported players were abysmal (apart fromQuigley)

The youngest player Duport when he came on and Casty impressed me and Gossard started well.
I rate Ferriol too but didn't get enough time.

 

[Nook]

Similarly I thought most of the Aussies and Kiwis were poor tonight - Croker and Greenshields in particular. Mogg had a crack but too much fell to him in the end.

I thought Casty (i think it was him, number 20 something?) had a good go when he came on, and Ferriol as well. But I thought they could have done with a bit more starch up the middle at times, a bit of passion and a few big hits could have turned the game.

 

[bartman]

Very impressed with their first half defence, including near the line. There's some good technique being coached there, turning the players at the right time, blocking the pop pass.

Up until when the game fell open in the second half, I couldn't fault the Catalans French forwards who made St Helens play on their terms. But the gaps opened up in the middle as time wore on, and the rest is history.

I thought Mogg was disappointing, botched a few plays out wide with late passes or dropped balls that could have been tries with better timing. But he was doing a stand-in job, so can't be too harsh.

 

[oxenham]

Croker and Greenshields were terrible and Mogg is definitley not a five-eighth.

 

[winnyason]

refereeing just like in nrl, changed game that is it the scoreline a lot closer than the 30 -8.
Croker no try when he clearly should have got benefit of doubt, & the gidley pass.
In just 2 years are mixing it with the best in world, potter must move duport to centres wilson adds nothing.

 

[bartman]

Not sure which of the imports are calling it quits this season, but a backline of:

Bosc
Pelo
Duport
?
Khattabi

...should go quite alright week in week out.

 

[JasonE]

Not sure which of the imports are calling it quits this season, but a backline of:

Bosc
Pelo
Duport
?
Khattabi

...should go quite alright week in week out.

Hopefully Croker gives it away, he's been a good player over the years but his time is up.

 

[Ari Gold]

Mounis suprised me a lot, he was very good.

 

[International RL]

I thought they were really courageous defending their own line, but you just can't keep turning over possession the way they did.

Conceding the try on half time was costly.

But I have to say I was disappointed with Jones. He failed to take control or come up with some big plays.

Plus the forwards were VERY disapointing. Whether it was the heat or the tackling, or both, they simply didn't take the team forward enough when it was needed.

Good work to reach the final. Go Catalans!

Well done Saints - too good.

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

I've said for a long time that some of the Catalans foreign contingent have let the side down consistently since they arrived.

Mogg and Jones are international quality players who would get into any club side in the world. Their contribution to the Catalans cause cannot be questioned. I would also add Alex Chan to that list, he throws everything he's got at it, even if he's not at the same level of quality as the others.

Clint Greenshields for me is the worst fullback in Super League. He really is shocking. When Saints beat Catalans earlier in the season he missed something like 5 or 6 basic one on one tackles that resulted in tries and he seems to fall over everytime a ball is kicked anywhere near him. He is stealing a living, as is Jason Crocker. It's time Super League stopped the pension funding of players like him who are sub-standard and who wouldn't have been top level players in Super League even at their peak.

Murphy is a solid player who knows where the try line is and he seems to be committed to the cause, I read a piece on him saying he's moved there long term and learnt the lingo fluently so it's hard to knock him.