Dragons drink up

CATALANS star Josh Drinkwater has hinted he could stay at the French club beyond this season after helping them to reach the Challenge Cup final.

The Australian kicked seven goals during his side’s 35-16 semi-final win over Super League leaders St Helens to set up a final with Warrington.

The Dragons rescued Drinkwater, 26, from reserve-grade obscurity with Western Suburbs Magpies in Australia in April after previous stints with London and Leigh. “I’m loving my time at Catalans and am grateful to them for giving me a chance. Everyone at the club has been really good to me and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer has moved to quell fears that Wembley could be half-empty for the final. He said: “Catalans reaching the final will ignite some interest in Perpignan and hopefully they’ll bring plenty across the Channel.” WORLD CHAMPION Mark Williams scraped into the last 64 of the World Open in China.

Williams breathed a huge sigh of relief after edging out German prospect Lukas Kleckers 5-4 after trailing 3-2 and then 4-3. The Welshman will play Switzerland’s Alexander Ursenbacher today.