CATALANS coach Steve McNamara has insisted that the inconsistencies which dogged last season are unconnected with his side’s indifferent start to this year’s campaign.
An unimpressive performance against Halifax in the Challenge Cup followed by a surprise 24-4 defeat in round one of Super League at home against Hull FC on Friday night had familiar echoes of the performances which saw Les Dracs drop from pole position to missing out on the play-offs in 2024.
But McNamara reacted emphatically when asked if the Dragons were still suffering from the same difficulties as last year.
He told League Express: “It’s got nothing to do whatsoever with last season, we’ve got a fresh group and we’ve really prepared well for a long season ahead.
“Because it’s round one it is so disappointing for us losing this game; you always want to win your first game, but we’re in the same position as half of the other teams in this competition.
“This team is set for a long season, that’s what we are prepared for. We didn’t get it right tonight but I am sure we will do over the long period of time ahead
“Luke Keary tried extremely hard for us, he was in and around the ball throughout the game and he’s down there in the dressing room clearly frustrated because he is a winner.
“The reality is that their (Hull’s) spine got the better of ours, their six, seven and one just got the better of ours tonight.
“Credit to them, they have got themselves off to a good start to the season.
We’ll lick our wounds and get ready to go next week.”
McNamara refused to blame the early departure of prop Romain Navarrete to a failed head-injury assessment for Saturday’s collapse against the black and whites and conceded he will be missing for this Friday’s trip to Warrington.
He added: “Romain went off with a concussion so we’ll have to deal with that but other than that I think we are okay.
“Potentially we have a couple of players returning, we had Jordan Dezaria and Matthieu Laguerre in the squad tonight but they are probably a week short of being ready to play. Remis Smith is not far away as well.
“Sam Tomkins (hamstring) and Théo Fages (broken ribs) are the two that are medium term and probably won’t be with us for a while.”