Rugby League: the Catalan Dragons beaten in the Super League final

2023-10-14 22:52:10

Second final and second defeat for the Catalan Dragons. In the “Theater of Dreams” in Manchester, the Perpignans once again failed this Saturday to climb the last step of the Super League, the English rugby league championship. They lost to Wigan (10-2). The franchise based in Perpignan, the only French representative in the Super League, was beaten in 2021 against St Helens (12-10).

“Serene” and “ready”, after their success in the semi-final against the most successful club in the history of the Super League, St Helens (12-6), Steve McNamara’s men had every reason to believe to historic success. But the Wigan Warriors, calm for 80 minutes, took advantage of the Catalan indiscipline to win their sixth Super League champion title.

“We didn’t play well enough tonight”

Having entered the game well, the “Dracs” held on until half-time (2-2) but were penalized by two temporary exclusions, that of Adam Keighran in the first period, then that of Tom Davies from the 43rd minute.

The English won thanks to their scorer Harry Smith, imperial against the posts (penalties in the 25th and 64th, conversion in the 51st) and a try from Marshall (51st), against a single penalty for the Dragons (Keighran at the 37th).

“I couldn’t ask them for more, we leave with no regrets, we didn’t play well enough tonight. We weren’t at our best, especially in attack,” said Steve McNamara at the end of the match on Sky Sports.

End of career for Sam Tomkins

Born from the merger of two emblematic clubs, the Catalan XIII and AS Saint-Estève, the franchise based in Perpignan joined the prestigious Super League in 2006. Once mocked by the English for their lack of consistency, they changed their status by reaching two finals in three seasons.

Winners of the Challenge Cup in 2018, Benjamin Garcia’s teammates, who finished second in the regular season, would have been rewarded with a title. It is also a disappointment for Catalan star Sam Tomkins (34), who is hanging up his boots after the final after 16 seasons at the highest level, including the last five in the south of France.

“They (Wigan) have just been a better team. (In my career), I lived a dream. It’s sad, I’m sad tonight but when I look at the last 15 years, I’ve experienced many more beautiful moments,” he told Sky Sports.