Duel at the top of the table in the Super League this Saturday (6:30 p.m.) with the third act of a Catalans Dragons – Warrington which will not do by half measures. Ambitious, the two teams hope to achieve the perfect move on the occasion of a day which will be marked by the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the XIII Catalan. The opportunity to ask three veterans for their analysis of the Dracs season, before challenging the Wolves.
Another historic day at Gilbert-Brutus this Saturday. This time it is not the poster of the day which will mark history, but this Saturday, the Catalan Dragons and the friendly of the alumni of the XIII Catalan are organizing the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the club with the famous scapular. Obviously, linked destinies continue to mobilize and this Saturday, several generations (1,400 people) will meet at the Palais des Expositions in Perpignan, to relive the past and replay the matches… before settling into the seats of the theater of their past glorious. Where they wrote the most beautiful pages in the history of Rugby League.
Laforgue would like to see the Dragons fix defenses more
Privileged witnesses, the winners of the championship (May 27, 1984) and who will celebrate this Saturday, the 40th anniversary of the title (victory against Villeneuve 30 to 6), are keeping a watchful eye on the clash of the day. Captain Guy Laforgue, an assiduous Dracs subscriber since 2006, speaks of a “good start to the season for the team in terms of results”. But his expert eye as a former player, coach and manager sees further. “IThey haven’t yet found the right formula for the hinge”adds the former third row, who appreciates seeing Fages and Abdull find their place against Warrington.“I know there is a lack of an explosive and playful center, but the market is locked in Australia”, points the finger, the former international. He who would appreciate seeing the “play leaders bring more speed, especially when engaging on the sides. We don’t fix the defenses enough and Warrington knows this and will want to counter us. Our half-backs should attack the line more”. And Guy Laforgue added: “We have good second lines, but they are never put in the intervals and it’s a shame not to exploit them better”he analyzes, correctly, after the start of the team’s season.
Cologni talks about a team that has the weapons to score 80-metre tries
Last captain of the XIII Catalan, during the Coupe de France final lost in Narbonne, against Villeneuve (34-14, May 28, 2000), Aurélien Cologni is a regular spectator of the Dracs’ performances. The fine tactician that he is, hopes that the Dragons will go “play in spaces, because they have the weapons on the outside to score tries from 80 meters, like Warrington who does not hesitate to try”. Cologni, spectator of the Dragons’ 36-6 against Hull KR (April 20), speaks “of the match during which the Dragons offered the most opening of the game, by starting earlier, surprising the opponent and leaving more possibilities for the players to express themselves”. Indeed, the Dracs, beaten 30-8 at Wigan and 30-2 at Leigh, hit a wall, scoring only one try in 160 minutes. It’s up to them to react as a team as they did in Warrington (32-24), by aligning six tries around a gala Jordan Abdull that day.
Bomati wants to believe that elimination in the Cup will be good
Finally, on June 4, 1994, the XIII Catalan won its last French championship title in Narbonne 6-4, against Pia, thanks to a try from Marc Guasch. Pascal Bomati, before changing codes for Brive (1997-1999), Section Paloise (1999-2002) and USAP (2002-2007), was an incredible player at XIII. Between his professional activities, the performances of his nephew, USAP winger Lucas Dubois, Pascal Bomati takes the time to follow the Super League season. He also took part in the analysis game. “They are positioned again this year with the biggest teams and there is a place to be taken on Saturday against a direct competitor”advances the former international at XIII who judges “damaging the elimination in the Cup”even if in his opinion, a question arises: “Do we have to chase several hares? Perhaps this elimination can allow them to go to the end like in 2021 and 2023, but this Saturday against Warrington, we will have an overview of the real level of opponents called to be in the fight all season”.
Words from “old hands”, the Catalan Dragons know they are expected. “It’s a very important period for us and it starts against Warrington. It’s up to us to improve our tempo, our speed of play and our support. I know it will happen eventually.”, slides, confident Steve McNamara, who also faced Pascal Bomati, during the European Cup and this England – France of February 15, 1995 (19-16 victory for the English). The former XIII Catalans will be able to make themselves heard this evening, to counter the Wolves fans and push behind Benjamin Garcia and his team.
