Catalans this year have virtually the same team as last year, but have declined from 4th last year to their current 6th position. They are most unlikely to be at Old Trafford in 2013.

Part of the reason has been the long term absence and subsequent decline in form because of illness, of playmaker Scott Dureau.

But another part of the reason has been the change in coaching staff. Laurent Frayssinous and David Waite are just not as good at coaching as Trent Robinson. Dureau gave the team better attacking options, but "Robbo" gave the team a better defence than they have this year.

Steve "Beaver" Menzies told Phil Gould that Trent Robinson was one of the best coaches he ever had.

Just look at what Robinson is achieving in the NRL: Sydney Roosters are as of today the number 1 team, thrashing Penrith 42-6 even without SBW! His Roosters are the best defensive team in the NRL by a big margin! He is almost certain to win Dally M coach of the year in 2013, his debut year as NRL coach.

Note that Robinson played for and coached Toulouse back before his first return to Australia, (pre-Catalans when he came under the patronage of Brian Smith). What a pity that Toulouse are unlikely to be able to lure him back from the NRL when they join Super League. He is now coaching on a bigger stage, and with a very healthy wage I imagine.

Haven't Catalans had and are still having massive injury problems? Harsh to blame their slight drop on the coach.

Thought that myself, they have had quite a few injuries in key positions which has created inconsistency, think the current coach is just a small problem on the grand scale of things.

Jason Baitieri and Louis Anderson have recently gone missing long term from the forwards through injury, and Damien Blanch and Lopini Paea have been injured for parts of the season. But there is a lot of depth in the squad, especially in the forwards.

They have lost more games at home than last season, which should not have happened. They should not have lost so easily to St Helens yesterday, nor to Hull FC in the CC quarter finals, on home turf.

Last season I honestly thought that they had a chance of making the grand final. This year I have no such confidence.

I think that the fate of Dureau, and the departure of Robinson, are the keys.

Dare i say i agree with this?

The loss of Dureau has been massive, Robinson based his team and game around Dureau. The current coach has,nt had that luxury so maybe his coaching prowness has been underdeveloped because of it.

According to Mark Rammond who posts betting tips on the Broncos forum Catalans were missing the following yesterday:

Casty
Bousquet
Anderson
Batieri
Elima
Webb
Blanch
Duruea
Baile
Cardace
Pala

Very harsh to blame the coach IMO.

I reckon Ricky Stuart might be available in the closed season.

I'm sure plenty of teams will finish ±2 places in the league than they did last season regardless of whether they have had a change of coach or not.

I'm sure plenty of teams will finish ±2 places in the league than they did last season regardless of whether they have had a change of coach or not.

The injury list is more to do with the form of the Dragons.

No doubt Trent Robinson is a fantastic coach and what his done with the Roosters is very very impressive but I wouldnt Catalan are in some deep decline.