Can't see Willie Mason lasting the full season though.

He was a big difference between the sides today. When he came out he was looked like he would eat Anderson as he went near him.

And then Big Willie followed and he was bigger (taller anyway)



They were big across the park and although we should have stopped some of their soft tries, you could see why they were dominating. We got some control when he went off but let it go again.



Myler had the best game I've seen him play for a while and Carney came off at the end of the game with a completely clean shirt. Not one tackle on him.

Did any of our players get any knocks, we seem to be luck so far when you look at other teams. ( touches the biggest piece of wood I can find)

Taylor performance yesterday was the best I have seen from an opposition forward at Belle Vue in a very long time. He was immense and was very clever as he kept running at Finn and molloy.

Correct - it was often remarked that he was a hb in a forward's body; I'm not sure why he couldn't get an NRL gig - although he did go distinctly off the boil in his last season there, so I guess they have the luxury of giving up on someone quickly when they lose form, due to the depth of talent in Aus. Inu is another example - a very gifted player who can make something out of nothing.



I listened to the game on the radio - Terry Crooks is hardly the most insightful commentator, but it did seem that Les Cats could score at will; they had their usual period of switching off when we scored 20+ unanswered points, but as soon as they woke up again, blew us away.



Even in a team with a strange and unfathomable attitude like Catalans, talent will out; their roster is just way superior to ours. I'd like to see details of their salary spend mind you - it's baffling how they manage to maintain that squad inside the cap.

Yes its hard to understand .I have been told the French Tax laws are different to ours they also don't have the same issues with national insurance. This allows them to offer better financial deals to overseas players at less cost.



However fat lad and his Red Hall chums can't police the cap in England, they would stand no chance in France.

I don't want to disrespect any of our players, but would there be any individual player you wouldn't swap for the equivalent of theirs? You can't say that about every top team but theirs is good across the park

I wouldn't swap Broughton for Johnstone

and although you wouldn't swap their worst prop for our best, no one would swap Taylor for anyone.

The half backs are light years ahead of ours.

Tupou would hold his own in their side but their second row actually played really well.

Agreed - they're better than us in almost every position; even Bosc, who is now a busted bit part player, is better than both our hb's rolled into one.



On the issue of cap - I have no insight into the French tax rules, but I can't see them being that much more favourable than ours that it allows them to fit Mason, Inu, Carney, Taylor, Horo, Stewart, Richards and Myler into their 29 man squad, whilst staying within the cap; it beggars belief.

totally agree.

On yesterdays performance, only Johnstone and Tupou would make their 17, possibly England.

I had to leave a tad early yesterday and didnt see the last try. Am i right in thinking they scored all there points whilst DT was on and we scored all ours whilst he was off????

I seem to remember that as long as overseas players stay in France less than 3 years they pay no tax at all on their earnings. Neither do they have to pay National insurance so they basically work 'cash in hand'.



Again looking at their squad and asking yourself how they fit those players in the cap, I am sure if you look at Warringtons and others, the exercise would be just as hard.

I must admit that before I went to the game yesterday I was quitely optimistic. Then I saw Catalans warm up and heard their team sheet being read out. That is when I realised we had little chance because man for man they are a far better team of big name/skilled players. It left me hoping that their reputation for travel would help us.



All in all I felt their pack (including Taylor) totally steam rolled us in the first half. Myler then stood out for me in the second.



Our attack was promising in the end. The problem we really do have yet again this season is defence. Just look at the league table and our against score, it is shocking. We really need to tighten defence and avoid blow out scores like we had at Cas, Wire and yesterday.