Warrington Wolves 18 - 12 Catalan Dragons
Warrington granted Oli Leyland his first Super League start, while Lachlan Fitzgibbon made his return from a long-term shoulder injury. Luke Littler led the teams onto the field amidst a display of fireworks, proudly raising his World Darts Championship trophy as the players prepared for kick-off.
Catalans swiftly took the lead with an Arthur Mourgue penalty goal, awarded following a high tackle by Ben Currie. Tommy Makinson had an opportunity to extend Catalans' advantage along the wing, but a remarkable cover tackle from Matt Dufty forced him into touch.
Matty Ashton appeared poised to break free down the left flank, yet a penalty was awarded against him due to an infraction involving George Williams' pass to the winger. Warrington finally registered points on the board at the half-hour mark, as Toby King capitalized on a mistake by Cesar Rouge, who mishandled Williams' high kick.
The Dragons roared back just before halftime as Matthieu Laguerre bulldozed his way through, leaving Dufty grasping at air!
Warrington had their chance to leap back into the lead at 48 minutes, keeping the ball alive until Arron Lindop was stopped just shy of glory. But fear not! Just two minutes later, Williams pulled off a cheeky show-and-go, sending Danny Walker scampering to score.
Catalans ramped up the pressure on our try-line halfway through the second half, but Sam Burgess’ squad stood like a brick wall. Then came the all-important try, and guess what? The Wire struck gold again as Dufty shrugged off the Dragons’ defence to score his second try in as many games!
But hold onto your hats—the Dragons weren’t done yet! Laguerre rolled over for his second after a dazzling break from Nick Cotric, setting up a nail-biting finish. With time winding down, the visitors cranked up the heat, but Arthur Romano knocked on just short, keeping the score tight at six points. Let's relive the action:
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The Coaches Assessment
Sam Burgess
"It was a really tough game – Catalans played a very tough, physical game and they challenged us a lot. They threw a lot of things at us that we hadn’t had a look at us – they had a lot of offloads and that challenged us, but I was really proud of my team’s effort. They never stopped trying or turning up for each other. We figured that out last year so I’m glad that’s continued on into this year it seems. I’m happy they got their reward at the end of it – those tight games can go either way so I’m glad it went ours."
Steve McNamara
"I thought we defended great and our offloads and shifts caused them a lot of trouble. I thought we dominated field position and possession. We have lost the first two, but deep down I know the team is built for a long season and we won't get too disappointed with two defeats."
The Final Word
The Wire has yet to truly dazzle in the opening two encounters, yet they have revealed glimpses of brilliance that have propelled them to triumph, capturing two victories in as many matches. In the first clash, it was Lindop who shone, followed by the remarkable George Williams on Friday night, who orchestrated the game for Warrington with a masterful dummy and a swift break that set up Danny Walker. As the team prepares for the upcoming trip to Las Vegas—a significant distraction on the calendar—we may discover more about Sam Burgess's squad in the entertainment capital of the world next Saturday
On the other hand, the Dragons showcased a notable improvement compared to their previous home performance against Hull FC. Defensively, they stood resolute, restricting Warrington to merely three tries—one from a high ball, another from a clean break, and the third a testament to Matt Dufty’s fierce determination. Their refusal to wilt and their embrace of an expansive style may well inspire confidence among supporters, hinting at the team’s potential evolution in the weeks ahead, especially on a sunlit track as spring and summer unfold.
The Gladiators who took the Field
Warrington Wolves
1 Matt Dufty
2 Josh Thewlis
33 Arron Lindop
3 Toby King
5 Matty Ashton
6 George Williams
18 Oli Leyland
10 Paul Vaughan
9 Danny Walker
13 Luke Yates
26 Dan Russell
12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
11 Ben Currie
Interchange
8 James Harrison
15 Joe Philbin
17 Jordy Crowther
32 Sam Powell
Try Scorers: King (29), Walker (50), Dufty (69)
Tale of the Boot: Josh Thewlis 3/3
Catalan Dragons
7 Arthur Mourgue
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Arthur Romano
23 Matthieu Laguerre
5 Nick Cotric
6 Luke Keary
18 César Rougé
8 Tevita Pangai Jr
9 Ben Garcia
10 Julian Bousquet
17 Bayley Sironen
12 Elliott Whitehead
13 Oliver Partington
Interchange
14 Alrix Da Costa
20 Jordan Dezaria
19 Paul Séguier
11 Tariq Sims
Try Scorers: Laguerre (38, 63)
Tale of the Boot: Mourgue 2/3
HOW IT WENT DOWN: 0-2, 6-2, 6-6; 12-6, 18-9, 18-12
Man of the Match - The Super League Raw Trophy
3pts - George Williams
2pts - Dan Russell
1pt Tevita Pangai Jr
Half-time: 6 - 6
Referee: Liam Rush
Attendance: 11,157
Key Performance Indicators:
Most Tackles – Elliot Whitehead - 46
Top Tackle Busts – Arthur Romano & Nick Cotric - 7
Most Carries – Matt Dufty & Arthur Romano - 24
Most Metres - Nick Cotric - 209
Hard Metre Maker – Tevita Pangai Jr - 88
Most Clean Breaks – Nick Cotric & Matthieu Laguerre - 3
Most Offloads – Tommy Makinson & Tevita Pangai Jr - 4
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