JORD BOYS CHEW ‘EM UP
Abdull ‘put on masterclass’ as Dragons defy Wolves fightback
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STEVE MCNAMARA saluted Jordan Abdull’s masterclass as injury-hit Catalans staved off a Warrington fightback.
The French club were missing halfbacks Theo Fages and Jayden Nikorima as well as full-back Arthur Mourgue but still had enough to end the Wolves’ five-game winning run.
That was mainly down to one-time England stand-off Abdull (right) who continues to impress on a season-long loan from Hull KR.
He inspired an 18-0 lead inside the opening 12 minutes as rookie half-back Ugo Tison, 22, came in for only his fourth Super League appearance.
Dragons boss Mcnamara (right) said: “It was a really good win given the circumstances.
We lost Theo Fages. He had a really tight calf and has a history of it. He wanted to push through but we decided in the hotel not to risk him.
“Ugo came in from our reserves and held his own. We didn’t look out of sync.
“But Jordan Abdull really, really stepped up for us.
“He put on a masterclass here today with his kicking and game sense.
“We executed a plan early on in attack and Jordan was a big part of that.”
Sam Burgess’s side hadn’t lost since an opening-day defeat in Perpignan.
But with two-try England winger Tom Johnstone also influential, it was the French outfit who triumphed again in a thrilling encounter.
Stunned Warrington barely touched the ball as Mcnamara’s charges ran riot during that blistering opening period.
Winger Tom Davies got them started with a simple finish in the fourth minute, Abdull slotting the first of his four goals.
And they were in again in the next set when Wolves dozed off. Abdull found space down the left, kicked ahead and the ball bounced up wickedly to elude Warrington full-back Matt Dufty – allowing Johnstone to race in from 20 metres. Things went from bad to worse for Wolves as prop Paul Vaughan was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Cesar Rouge.
That saw captain Ben Garcia burrow over before Burgess’s men finally woke up. NRL recruit Zane Musgrove got his first try in Warrington colours before George Williams’ long ball saw Matty Ashton cleverly flick back inside for Toby King to cross.
Josh Thewlis converted both to cut the deficit to 18-12 but the visitors scored first in the second period when Johnstone brilliantly kept Abdull’s kick in play, enabling Rouge to cross.
Johnstone added his second in the 50th minute but the hosts fired back again with James Harrison barging over.
And when Williams put on a huge sidestep to slice through in the 56th minute, Thewlis’ conversion put them just four points behind. But Catalans held firm with some desperate defence.
And Abdull sealed victory with 95 seconds remaining after Johnstone again got a crucial hand to one of his towering kicks.
Warrington lost Joe Philbin and Musgrove to failed HIAS meaning 18th man Matty Nicholson came in.
Burgess said: “It’s disappointing. We missed the jump early.
“There were some great efforts to get back in. But if you give 18 points away against any team it’s too much to do.” WARRINGTON WOLVES: Tries: Musgrove, King, Harrison, Williams; Cons: Thewlis (4) CATALAN DRAGONS: Tries: Davies, Johnstone (2), Garcia, Rouge, Abdull;
Cons: Abdull (4)