Watson’s blast as late Dragons delay kick-off
IAN Watson was at loggerheads with Catalan Dragons coach Steve McNamara after Huddersfield leapfrogged their opponents with a 28-12 victory in a game delayed for more than half an hour due to travel difficulties affecting the French side.
High winds in Perpignan forced the Dragons to travel via Toulouse, meaning they did not arrive until just before the scheduled kick-off time.
Giants boss Watson was understandably thrilled with his side’s fifth win in seven games, taking them up to third in the Betfred Super League table, but not so impressed with the delay. He said: “I’m delighted – it’s a good result for us and we know that to be a top team we need to beat top teams.
“It was probably easier for Catalans as they know where they are in terms of travel.
“Our players have been here (in the dressing rooms) a long time not knowing what’s happening.
“We have had to adjust for the stadium staff, the supporters... to adapt for one team.
“They can’t help what has happened but if they run the risk of travelling on the day they run the risk of missing the game and that’s something they need to look at.
“Either they travel earlier or are happy to run that risk. They can’t help what’s happened but everyone knows when the fixtures are so if one team chooses to travel on the day they run this risk.
“I’d say it had an affect on us too. “Once they got here, they were given longer than they probably should have been allowed.
“We started flat – whether that was from hanging around in the changing rooms – but we worked our way back into the game and then started to create some opportunities for ourselves.”
Catalans boss McNamara described Watson’s comments as “disgraceful” and, after watching his side’s first defeat since the opening round of the season, added: “I’ve had easier days.
“We have invested so much money over the last couple of years trying to get here.
“We checked all the forecasts and things changed drastically at the death.
“There was an absolute gale coming.
“So we got into cars and drove in dangerous winds to Toulouse and get here just before the kick-off and had go straight onto the field.
“I thought this game was about trying to do the right thing by everybody and there was a freak of nature happened which delayed us.
“I believe Hull KR v Warrington was delayed too (the same evening) due to traffic on the M62 so will they want everyone from Warrington to stay the night beforehand in Hull in the future...”