Second Super League final, and second defeat for the Catalans Dragons after that of 2021, beaten this Saturday evening by Wigan (10-2) in front of the crowd at Old Trafford, in Manchester. The Warriors, however, won their sixth title, a record for the English Rugby League Championship, after 1998, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2018.
A meeting which began with nine minutes of uninterrupted play, until a forward from the Catalans, who had to replace Paul Seguier with Manu Ma’u immediately (13th), the time to sew up an arcade bloodied by a collision with a crampon. Outnumbered (dangerous tackle by Adam Keighran, 20th), the only French representatives in the Super League conceded their first points in the 24th minute, on a penalty converted by Harry Smith following an irregular tackle by Ma’u. And had to wait until the 37th to return the favor to the Warriors (Keighran).
Too messy in the last down, the Catalans were unable to convert their advantage in the first half (57% possession), the two teams returning to the locker room at 2-2.
The second half was less brilliant for the Dragons, deprived of Tom Davies in the 44th minute (yellow card). They made a series of mistakes, while Wigan, boosted by the speed of Jai Field, gave a first warning (try by French refused for forward, 50th), before concretizing their offensive superiority two minutes later (try by Lian Marshall, transformed by Smith).
The Catalan Dragons will have to renew themselves
The Catalans conceded a new penalty in the 65th minute (10-2), while Matt Ikuvalu had just left the field with an eye injury. The entry of Arthur Mourgue, expected since Mitchell Pearce’s obvious difficulties in keeping up with the pace imposed by the English, will change nothing. The Dragons were unable to repeat their semi-final feat against St Helens Saints.
It is both an end of cycle for the Catalan club, which sees many of its protagonists leave it, and an end of career for Sam Tomkins or Mitchell Pearce, both 34 years old.
