The spectacle and the occasion Super League’s Magic Weekend provides always feels like an opportunity for at least one side with Grand Final aspirations to lay down a significant marker every season. On the opening day of this year’s event in Newcastle, Catalans Dragons did exactly that against one of their major rivals for the title.
The Dragons have flirted with a Super League title for a number of years now, perhaps best epitomised by their run to the 2021 Grand Final, where they fell just short against the all-conquering St Helens. But with Saints, the dominant force of recent years, not at their best this year, there is an opening for someone to take full advantage.
Steve McNamara’s side offered a definitive suggestion they could be serious contenders as they moved top of the table before Warrington’s game against Hull FC on Sunday.
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The standout game of the opening day of Magic was, in the end, somewhat of a formality.
The two sides sitting second and third going into the event were a complete mismatch in the sunshine, with Catalans sweeping Wigan aside courtesy of a dominant and ultimately eye-catching display.
Three tries for the Warriors in the closing stages added a shade of respectability to the scoreline, which the displays of both sides perhaps did not merit.
By that stage, Catalans led 46-8 and were good value for a lead of that size. The star was arguably winger Tom Johnstone, who continued his fine form with a hat-trick to move to the top of the try-scoring charts.
Johnstone has 17 tries in 15 games, and he is one of several players who look more capable than ever under McNamara.
“For 65 minutes it was a really good performance,” McNamara said. “We played pretty much perfect to that point, we showed how to play a big game. It’s a great day for us.”
Wigan led 4-2 in the early stages thanks to Jake Wardle’s try, but by half-time they were 24-8 behind after a dominant display from Catalans.
Former Wigan favourite Sam Tomkins put the Dragons into a lead they would not relinquish with his try, and by the break they had crossed three more times courtesy of Arthur Mourgue, Matt Whitley and Johnstone’s first.
Bevan French clawed the deficit back somewhat before half-time but even at that early stage, the writing was on the wall for a Wigan side who have now lost three of their past four league games.
“Catalans were excellent but we were way off in so many areas,” their coach, Matt Peet, said. “They’re a big team and if you allow them to execute, they punish you. We’ve learned a harsh lesson.”
Any notion of a Warriors comeback was extinguished two minutes after the restart when Johnstone produced a superb solo effort for his second.
Whitley then claimed his second, before Arthur Romano’s try put the result beyond doubt long before the hour mark had arrived. Johnstone completed his hat-trick with a magnificent flying finish.
Catalans arguably took their foot off the gas. That afforded the Warriors a chance to put some respectability on the scoreline as Abbas Miski, Liam Marshall and Morgan Smithies crossed in the final moments, but as Peet admitted, they were not a cause for any cheer given how comprehensively his side had been outplayed by a Catalans side who look every inch title contenders.
Qareqare helps Tigers bare teeth against Rhinos
Castleford eased their Super League relegation worries courtesy of a dramatic West Yorkshire derby victory against Leeds in Saturday’s final game at St James’ Park.
Jason Qareqare’s try and Gareth Widdop’s subsequent conversion with seven minutes remaining gave the Tigers a third win of 2023, despite trailing by 10 points with 10 minutes remaining. Andy Last’s side are now six points clear of bottom side Wakefield Trinity, who are yet to win a game this season and face Leigh on Sunday. Two of those three wins have been against Leeds, who are losing ground on the playoff places.
The game could have gone either way, underlined by the fact that only two points separated the sides at half-time. At that stage, Leeds led 12-10 courtesy of tries from Derrell Olpherts and James Bentley, with Rhyse Martin converting both. Castleford’s response came through Elliot Wallis and Jacob Miller, but Widdop could only convert one.
The Rhinos, whose inconsistent season continued here, extended that lead shortly after the restart when Martin crossed via a superb pass from Blake Austin, with the forward converting to make it 18-10.
The former Leeds forward Alex Mellor cut the deficit for Castleford before Leeds moved further ahead through Mikolaj Oledzki’s strong finishOne more Rhinos try could have been decisive but as the game entered the closing stages, it was the Tigers who picked up the momentum.
Mellor set up a grandstand finish with his second to cut the gap to four before Qareqare was freed on the wing courtesy of a wonderful team move. Widdop nervelessly converted from the touchline and despite one or two moments of late drama, Castleford held on to take a significant step towards Super League survival.
Salford strengthened their Super League playoff credentials with a superb 26-16 victory against Hull KR in the opening game to solidify their position inside the top six.
Paul Rowley’s side, the league’s lowest spenders who were one game from a second Grand Final appearance last season, look wholly capable of defying the odds again. They trailed Rovers by two points with 102 minutes remaining before tries from the former Robins players Ken Sio and Chris Atkin secured victory.
