Warriors Spoil Dragons Party It was party day at the Stade Gilbert Brutus as the Catalans Dragons celebrated ten years on Super League with a game against the side that they faced in their opening fixture back in 2006, Wigan Warriors. And there was plenty to play for in a muggy south of France. A win for the home side would see them into second spot, ahead of today's visitors, but a win for the Warriors would life them back level on points with league leaders Hull FC. It was difficult to know which of the two sets of fans would be partying the most come full time, but with little to choose between the two sides we should have been in for a belter. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Warriors Spoil Dragons Party It was party day at the Stade Gilbert Brutus as the Catalans Dragons celebrated ten years on Super League with a game against the side that they faced in their opening fixture back in 2006, Wigan Warriors. And there was plenty to play for in a muggy south of France. A win for the home side would see them into second spot, ahead of today's visitors, but a win for the Warriors would life them back level on points with league leaders Hull FC. It was difficult to know which of the two sets of fans would be partying the most come full time, but with little to choose between the two sides we should have been in for a belter. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Fantastic win, absolutely made up.

Quietly confident.

Best win of the season, possibly best win for several seasons.
Well done !

Great performance. Flower was unbelievable. Shorrocks has seamlessly transitioned into a first team jersey, he will be class for us.

Shorrocks exudes confidence. Great to see after a bad injury. Also, says a lot for the lad that he's waited his chance and has not come in demanding a shirt and causing a fuss at having been made to earn his place.

Agree. His last 2 performances have cast even more doubts over Hampshire's future with us. It was great that we could leave Williams on the bench for most of the second half and give Sam Tomkins too. Not many teams can do that going to France, even if they don't have another 7 of their starting 17 injured!

What game are you lot posting on?

The clue is in the OP.

Terrific team spirit from Wigan on display again. To dominate their forward pack when we are giving up so much size and experience is really pleasing.

Matty Smith kicked superbly, when he plays like that he is a real asset and worthy of the 7 shirt.

Everyone in the forward pack really got stuck in and I was surprised and impressed by Greg Burke off the bench.

Shorrocks looked a confident, natural half back. Be interesting to see how he progresses.

Some big players to come back who will be fresh for the end of the year, we look in good knick.

What's "good knick"?

Yes, another solid and impressive performance from Shorrocks and a great team win.

Brilliant brilliant brilliant.

Great team win not a bad player. Special mentions to -

Sam - not lost a game since he's been back starting? Brings so much confidence to players around him, his defence is unreal

Sarge - still think underrated by many. I know he's not a natural centre but has amazing footwork and gets through a mountain of work, he will be missed.

Flower - Beast.

Smith - long kicking game is superb.

Bench - worried when I saw a bench of Tautai Breatherton Sharrocks and Burke but all probably had their best game this season.

Exciting that we're rounding into shape and still have the potential players to come back

Joel Tomkins
Dom Crosby
John Bateman
Frank Paul Nauuasala
Anthony Gelling
Liam Farrell
Tony Clubb
McIlorum ( keep hearing we might see him for the playoffs)

Scary if we can get a full team out and keep Sam and lockers fit

We've a way to go yet and we'll be even stronger when we have something close to a full team but I think the team is now really starting to kick on towards its usual end of season form.

This board was a battleground early in the season between those who were frustrated and wanted a change of coach and those who were chilled out and were confident our patchy form was purely down to missing personnel. I always fell firmly in that second camp and I think that patience is now starting to look well placed.

As for the game itself we were terrific. The conveyor belt of talent keeps producing the goods. How exciting is watching young Shorrocks? He oozes class and confidence and looks the type who'll develop in to a really good leader. It was also great to see Sutton continue his run of form. He's come on leaps and bounds these past two months.

What's the point in getting a season ticket now though? It I could keep my seat I'd just get a half season ticket for the second half of the season because it's not worth watching the first at all.

Some of the early season tweets were quite childish, and frankly embarrassing.... Riddled with injuries to the spine, and awaiting ST return... Still a way to go, but I suspect other teams will be looking at us and getting a little worried. As was said, look who is still out injured..

If Charnley was given better ball passing he would have scored 2 tries.

Yeah, our centres are rubbish they?



That pass to Charnley wasn't perfect, but he should have taken it. And, to be fair, in real time it seemed to me that if the pass had have been 'perfect', it might well have been called forward.

Yes, it's a pity we all aren't perfect, just human.

Il stick to my mid season crisis time prediction that we will win the Grand Final. Some very red faces on here if we do I should imagine. Anyone remember the Wane out thread?

I just couldn't get my head round the expectations at the time that we should have still been able to win games and play entertaining rugby when we were missing as many as 11 or 12 players some weeks.

The only thing I felt we could judge the players on was the effort and that's has been exceptional all year (aside from Wakey away but I think the reasons behind that are well documented). The players look as determined as I've ever seen them to win games and as players are coming back on board we're going to be difficult to beat.

Remember, it's only a semi pro league!

Dont get carried away by beating the frogs by a mere 20 points.

This was a game I was very worried about given the Dragons' form at home, but it was amazing how comfortable we seemed to be from a relatively early stage.

Great to see all that expectation invested in 'the Coal Train' and 'the Bus' (and it's well merited expectation, frankly), only for 'the Kid' and 'the Flower' to come out on top.



And as you say, lots of quality still to return to the fray. Would be extra nice now to give Wakey a kicking on Friday.

Fantastic weekend . Fantastic win / performance

On a sour note

Thanks to the group of lads at the very very top of the stand who were sat in our seats and when asked in a polite manner to vacate said seats because there were no alternatives became very aggressive and abusive.

We were a party of 5 (2 men 3 ladies) various ages .

I am now aware that i am a Scottish B*****D and P***K.

An Irish lady in our company is now aware she is an Irish B*****D and the female equivalent of a P***K.

One female in our group who has had a knee replacement and was in a bit of distress after climbing to the top of the stand got short shift.

We are all now aware that the jugs of beer on sale contained lager (thrown about us) and had multi purpose as they could be used as toilets .


Many Many thanks to the three ladies who came over and offered to move to accommodate our party. The gesture was very much appreciated .


Rant over sorry folks . see you all on Friday

Regards , EW


PS Can i please also add that none of the said gentlemen were wearing Wigan colours .

What a real shame. It's a great weekend and that's the last thing you need.

You do tend to get the odd few idiots over there watching us. There was a group of lads there last year who I've seen causing trouble at Saints away (throwing glasses at people outside the weatherspoons pre match a couple of years ago) and they were absolutely wasted last year.

I don't get that mentality at all. If they want to act like they're on Green Street surely they'd be more suited to going to the football?! They could have gone up against the Russians in Mille but maybe they wouldn't have the stones for that.

Hope it didn't ruin your weekend. I'm sure after a few beers and a bit of sun you got over it

Would take more than a few cretins to spoil the weekend . Was more concerned for the girls.

Was at the very first game in 2006 and took my daughter (who was at the 2006 game) and my sons girlfriend to see her first Rugby League game . Ross is taking her to the next match to prove to her that wasn't typical Wigan Rugby League fans behaviour . She knows that secretly but not telling him as she just wants to go to another game Ha Ha Ha.

Cheers NK

Regards , EW