Steve McNamara’s Catalans are ready to turn up the heat on champions St Helens - after battling so desperately to avoid it.
The Dragons have been training less and earlier in the day to avoid searing temperatures in the south of France. It’s clearly working as they’re two points clear at the top of Betfred Super League. But they have flown in for Thursday’s mouthwatering showdown at third-placed Saints knowing they’ll need more energy than ever to down Paul Wellens’ revitalised side.
McNamara said: “It’s a fact that we probably train less than any other team just because of our situation. With all the travel we do and the current weather, it’s like living in an inferno so we have to start really early in the morning to try to stay out of it. We’re on the field by 8.30am. If we train any later, it’s sapping.
"It’s tiring enough just walking around across there; it was 37 degrees on Saturday and up to 70 percent humidity. We have meetings at 7am and the staff are in at about 5.30am to prepare. The players are having to adapt. But I see the willingness to do that and that gives you the best chance.”
Catalans hope to go one step further than two years ago when they finished top but lost their maiden Grand Final to Saints. McNamara has seen signs that suggest they have matured enough to do just that. The ex-England boss explained: “The togetherness and ambience of the squad, the attitude and etiquette of the group, where they are at and the way they are living their lives is outstanding.
“At the moment, there’s lots of things there which mean unless you’re living the rest of your life really well, things can come tumbling down. So when I look at the group and I see their connection with each other, the way they’re living their lives, I know what we are doing is giving ourselves the very best chance. There’s no question about that.
“We’ve put ourselves in a reasonable position but there’s nine games left to play so there’s a long way to go. With the signs I’ve seen we’ve given ourselves a good opportunity of going further and further.”
But Saints have overcome losing five of their opening ten games to ominously look ready to take a fifth straight title. They have only lost once in nine games in all competitions since Catalans beat them 24-12 in Perpignan on May 5. And Les Dracs also saw their own seven-game winning run come to an end with Saturday’s surprise home loss against struggling Huddersfield.
McNamara, who has ex-England captain Sam Tomkins and Aussie scrum-half Mitchell Pearce back for the contest, said: “Last week was a big disappointment. Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit as well; sometimes as coaches we look at ourselves and how we performed but the opposition did a good job on us, too. Up to that point we have been really consistent. Not nine out of ten performances every week but not dropping below sevens whereas last week we did. It was our first real blip in that area.
"But there’s nothing better than a short turnaround, not too much time to think about it or to train - hardly any time to go train - just recover, get on the plane, get over here and go again. The Catalans/Saints games over their entire history have been sensational and it’s a game all the players look forward to.”
The former Bradford chief, who worked in the NRL with Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors, is not surprised in the least by Saints’ resurgence. He said: “Anybody who knows anything about high-level sport, to do what they did in pre-season to travel over to Australia, prepare for a World Club Challenge, win that against Penrith and with a new coach, there was always going to be a big dip afterwards. It’s near impossible not to do that.
“Credit to their group for having the ability to get back out of that dip particularly over this last month. They are a formidable side. They have been for a long period of time and I’m sure will be moving forward as well. We want to match that and go after that level of consistency. They have been the benchmark for everybody.”
And Catalans’ tapered down training will be key against opponents renowned for their line-speed and relentless appetite. McNamara said: “The one thing we need on Thursday night is energy. So you don’t want to be taking any more out of the tank. We want to fill the tanks full again before we play St Helens. And we have.”
