Catalans coach Steve McNamara is calling for a clamp-down on time-wasting, following a stop-start game in Perpignan on Saturday night.
McNamara saw his team lose to an Aidan Sezer-inspired Huddersfield Giants. And while the Dragons chief was full of praise for the visitors, he expressed his concerns over numerous stoppages that disrupted the flow of the game.
He told League Express: “We do need to seek some clarification on some of the stoppages. It’s not an excuse, but there were some players out there who looked like they had been knocked out, yet they stay on the field. There were lots of stoppages.
“The referees came out at the start of the season and told everyone we want the game to be played at a faster pace and the shot clocks were going to be shorter. But we had so many stoppages today.
“It seems to be something creeping into the game and we need to have a look at it. It was a grey area at the start of the season, but it was a real problem tonight.”
McNamara was frustrated by his team’s first-night failure against the Giants: “I thought Huddersfield played really well, completed and kicked the ball well and they managed to put enough pressure on us to get the win.
“We’re clearly disappointed with our performance, but I’m not too downbeat because I know we’ve got a good team downstairs in that dressing room.”
McNamara refused to be drawn on the Israel Folau situation but he did say, “We’ve made the signing, we’ve made the statement, there will be further stuff to follow, but not right now.
“Another outside back is going to be good for us, we’re down right there at the moment with Lewis Tierney out and Tom Davies, and Brayden Wiliame has left so we’re a little short in those areas and it would be nice to have an extra body on board.”
