Naiqama strikes twice to put out Dragons’ fire
‘I’M so proud of what these boys have accomplished. I love this team and I love this town,’ said St Helens’ matchwinning centre Kevin Naiqama, and why not?
The Fijian centre was entitled to let his emotions spill over after scoring two tries which inspired the defending champions to their third successive Super League title.
Naiqama joined Saints ahead of the 2019 campaign and will now leave having tasted Grand Final glory in each of his three seasons at the club, his performance here earning him the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match.
The 32-year-old is heading home for family reasons and can reflect on his pivotal role in the club’s ‘three-peat’ — which saw St Helens equal Leeds Rhinos, who achieved the feat between 2007 and 2009 — in winning a hat-trick of titles.
This was a brutal, bruising and compelling encounter which saw French side Catalans left devastated by such a narrow loss in their maiden Grand Final.
‘It’s a kick in the teeth but we’ll be back,’ said Dragons boss Steve McNamara, who felt a number of crucial calls went against his side.
“This isn’t the last step for the Dragons — it’s just the next step. It has opened up a brand-new market. There were TV cameras here from Paris and Barcelona and all the French papers were here. It has opened people’s eyes to French
rugby league.’ Catalans captain Ben Garcia and second-rower Matt Whitley both suffered broken hands and centre Dean Whare tore his pectoral muscle.
It said much for the intensity of the match. Saints boss Kristian Woolf, who has guided the club to a Challenge Cup and Grand Final double this season, beamed: “It was an outstanding game of footy. There was drama, controversy and I’m extremely proud of this group, they are special.’
Sione Mata’utia was fortunate to escape an early card after hitting James Maloney, who soon booted a penalty to put Catalans ahead. But Saints clinically forged ahead when Lachlan Coote expertly supported the attack and a neat pass sent Naiqama bursting over the line.
The Dragons were not helped by conceding three penalties in quick succession, Coote converting one. But Dragons pressure told when Maloney kicked his second penalty, cutting Saints’ lead to two.
Six minutes after the restart Old Trafford held its breath when Catalans playmaker Josh Drinkwater flighted a teasing kick to the left corner which found Faoud Yaha. The Frenchman appeared set to cross the line but Tommy Makinson thwarted him with a head-high tackle which earned him a yellow.
It was the first-ever sinbinning in a Super League Grand Final.
Then Drinkwater’s clever flighted kick into the right corner was knocked back by Tom Davies into the path of Mike McMeeken, who touched down from close range.
Maloney added the conversion and suddenly McNamara’s men led 10-6 with Makinson still in the bin.
But St Helens kept probing and were finally rewarded when Jonny Lomax’s grubber kick fell kindly for Naiqama to strike again.