HUDDERSFIELD Giants could face a big Catalans backlash on Saturday after St Helens coach Daniel Anderson branded the Dragons’ last performance “terrible”.
The Frenchmen’s seven-match unbeaten Super League run came to an abrupt end with a 28-10 defeat at Saints on Saturday.
It was a result which enabled St Helens to leapfrog the French into second place in the League table, with Anderson feeling his side were handed an easy ride.
“It was ugly,” admitted Saints chief Anderson.
“I think mediocre is overstating it. We were poor and they were terrible.
“We’ve been in some games that have been a great advertisement for rugby league but that wasn’t one of them.”
And Catalans coach Mick Potter is sure those remarks will act as a big source of motivation when his side entertains the Giants this weekend.
“It was a disappointing result and I know how much the players are desperate to try and put it right on Saturday,” said Potter.
“They look a determined bunch after putting in that ‘terrible’ performance.”
Hull KR centre Ben Cockayne, who had faced anything up to a six-match ban after facing two separate charges, avoided any punishment when he appeared before the Rugby Football League’s disciplinary committee last night.
He was found not guilty of striking with his forearm during his side’s 50-16 defeat at the Giants and escaped with a warning after being found guilty of a dangerous throw.
And Warrington forward Rob Parker was found guilty of dangerous tackling but avoided any punishment.
The former Bradford Bulls second rower, who was recently warned over his tackling technique, was cited by the League’s match review panel for three alleged offences during the Wolves’ 38-14 Super League defeat at Wigan.
Wakefield hooker Tevita Leo-Latu will be out of action for three months after suffering a broken hand during the Wildcats’ 58-12 defeat at Leeds four days ago.
Leo-Latu, who has undergone surgery after breaking his hand in two places, becomes the club’s third major casualty in as many weeks following injuries to prop forward Adam Watene (knee) and Ricky Bibey (rib).
“It’s the nature of the game and we’ve just got to get on with it,” said coach John Kear.
“We’ve done that pretty well this season and we will have to continue to do so.”
