Better performance in first half regarding energy and commitment, but Catalans twice played the wrong option in their LH attack and plays breaking down when they clearly had a 2:1 overlap with our our RH defence nowhere. Better attacking teams would have put those away without problem.
Second half we were largely back to the lacklustre showing of previous matches.
On positive notes I think O'Neil probably had his best game since his comeback and Eckersley, Farrimond, Wardle and Keighran did look dangerous ball in hand.

We were ok in the first half. Did some good defending early on and then controlled the game without being outstanding. Farrimond and Smith were working well. Dupree had a decent stint. Havard looks a shadow of himself. O'Neill seemed sharper than he has been.


Second half we started totally dominant for a few minutes and I felt, if we scored in that patch and took it to 20 or 22 nil we would have ended up with a big victory. But Catalans weathered that storm and, for the rest of the match, we were back to the shoddy performances of the last few weeks. It was very disappointing and if the game against Rovers were taking place now, I would be very worried indeed.


A week off has probably come just when we needed it, and we should have Field and Walters back with any luck. Walters has been our best prop this season but I would have to say we need to use him in the second row when he returns, to give Junior and Faz a breather, as they are both miles off their best. It doesn't help that they are both better suited to playing on the left as well. Ultimately, the team appears to have become too dependent on French, so his return will be huge when it comes. There is, or should be, enough quality in the team to cope better without him, though. 


Thompson is another we have missed. Even when he has played he has not hit the level he did last season, which I attribute to niggling injuries. Last season I felt he was comfortably the best prop in the competition. If we can get him back at that sort of level, get French back raring to go for the last chunk of the season, and get Walters back I still think we can walk off the field winners at Old Trafford. But at our current form, it's a Leigh-Rovers final.