Todd Carney has not been peeing in his own mouth in Perpignan. In fact there is no certainty that he ever peed in his own mouth, though he attempted to feign doing such when at Cronulla.

Anyway this has nothing to do with his performances on the field for Catalans. He played very well last weekend, even though still not at his best. He has been out for so many games with injury, that it will take time for him to gel completely with Scott Dureau and the rest of the team. I would not call him "not fully interested." He wants to win silverware, and Les Catalans Dragons are still on track for having a shot at both the Challenge Cup final at Wembley and the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

For a team to struggle against a poor, part-time pit village in Featherstone - then no they won't achieve a top four finish.

Catalans were playing without both their star halves, Todd Carney and Scott Dureau, their star attacking second rower John Zebolon Ta'ia, their star hooker Ian Henderson, and their tireless lock forward Jason Baitieri. Not surprising with such a fundamental disruption that they struggled against the pit villagers.

Judge them when they are at full strength against the likes of Warrington and Wigan. A proper dismantling in both cases.

Except when you play us at our place

Catalan are good at home where they the vast majority of decisions but dross a way from home. Defensively they lack the grit of a genuine top 4 team. Carney aka the tampon will no doubt be missing again soon.

Featherstone were missing nine first team players for the game, which makes Catalans even poorer.

It would be good for the French game if they did make the top four.

Re: Can Catalans make the top four?

Yeah why not?! Away form?possibly......Huddersfield are a decent while not all that great side, Wire are absolutely brilliant one week then absolutely dreadful for the next three and it's been like that all season with us, Cas have a good quick PTB from their pack and can be dangerous. I do actually think Catalans are better than all three of those teams when everyone is fit for them (have they ever had a fully fit or even close to fully fit side?) but they struggle on the road which could be their downfall, again.

Will be interesting.

Have said this every year for the last few years, they are unlikely to themselves, but they will have a big say in who finishes in what position

Remember we've had injuries all year too and currently have about 6 or 7 first team players out!

But you have been missing nobody of the stature of Todd Carney, Scott Dureau, John Zebolon Ta'ia or Morgan Escare. Those four, along with Ian Henderson and Eloi Pelissier, are the key to Catalans winning or losing.

One prediction: soon we will all be talking about the barnstorming runs and tries scored by the massive 18 year old winger Mouad Yaha.

But they still put out a team of full time professionals, several of whom are internationals, and struggled to overcome a team of part-time players. Regardless of who they were missing, it was professionals versus semi-pros.

Don't underestimate the damage that occurs when a team loses its two star play makers, hooker, and two top back rowers. The coach erred somewhat in his selections, even though the replacements narrowly came home with the bacon.

The proof is what happened the following week, when a nearly full strength Catalans devastated and humiliated the full time professional team from Wigan.

The way their going a.t.m, they could get dragged into in the middle eights!

Imagine the furore if the second expansion club fell out of S.L in the space of two seasons .