THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Dragons kids in fiery baptism
STEVE McNAMARA is convinced his latest hot-bed of rookies will revel in standing on the shoulders of the game’s great players.
The Catalans Dragons head coach helped nurture dual-code superstar Sam Burgess, as well as England stars John Bateman, Elliott Whitehead and Tom Burgess, as youngsters at Bradford.
And he believes that experience will help the kids now breaking through at the Dragons to have just as much fire in their bellies to succeed.
McNamara, who fielded 12 French players in Saturday’s 34-12 defeat by St Helens, said: “I could not be happier. Looking back to the Bradford days, we brought through a whole host of young boys – Bateman, Whitehead, the Burgesses.
“I am desperate for that to happen in France. We have some super kids who understand what it takes.”
Catalans’
12-match winning run ended at the weekend but they still top Super League, narrowly ahead of Saints, on win points percentage.
McNamara, though, insists defeat brought the silver lining of seeing how his young guns coped.
He was forced to field more than he wanted, including handing debuts to two teenagers, because of an extensive injury list.
He said: “It is very difficult for them to come in all at once but they did a tremendous job.
“We had a couple on debut and some in only their second or third game. These boys haven’t played for months because our reserves season has been over for some time.
“They got hit hard and hit often but on the back of that these players will get confidence and our club gets confidence in them.” Catalans have led Super League since early June and, at full strength, look genuine contenders to win their first title.
Friday’s home game against Hull FC is in doubt, though, after a Covid outbreak at Hull.
Their game against Warrington on Sunday was postponed and players will be tested again today to see if the Dragons match can go ahead.
Meanwhile, Salford skipper Lee Mossop has been forced to retire immediately on medical orders.
The prop, who played in Friday’s 16-6 loss to Wigan, has had 11 operations to reconstruct his shoulder and now needs another.
Mossop, 32, said: “The surgeon told me there are no more surgeries to prolong my career. Instead, it will be one final operation to give me a better quality of life with my wife and young children.”