Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:55 pm  

Legendary Leigh Crucify Calamitous Catalans in French mismatch !

McBanana signing on Monday !

RFL bigwigs spotted moving some goalposts already !

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:23 am  

Catalan are looking like certainties for the MPG and Leigh look like staying in the top flight, which, in their first season back in the big time, is mission accomplished for Leigh.

The bigger issue here is what ramifications there would be IF Catalan are relegated and whether this has any effect on the Sky deal and of course the sponsorship from French TV, not to mention a great trip over to France once a year.

Although it's easy to understand the Leigh fans being happy about SL survival, for the game as a whole, losing Catalan from the top flight wouldn't be good for the professional game.

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:46 am  

We are continually told they are second wealthiest club in the game so should they be relegated they should have no problem weathering the storm and fighting back the season after.

It would be interesting to see how their games with Toulouse work out.

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:19 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

The bigger issue here is what ramifications there would be IF Catalan are relegated and whether this has any effect on the Sky deal and of course the sponsorship from French TV, not to mention a great trip over to France once a year.

The RFL might have a "fall-guy" lined up. Another club who doesn't meet the required criteria for SL could step down and Catalans would remain.

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:28 am  

Tigerade wrote:

The RFL might have a "fall-guy" lined up. Another club who doesn't meet the required criteria for SL could step down and Catalans would remain.

If Catalans finish sixth and miss the MPG, surely that would mean they'd need two fall guys?...

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:40 am  

Wellsy13 wrote:

If Catalans finish sixth and miss the MPG, surely that would mean they'd need two fall guys?...

Yes they would. London Broncos for example. Finish above Catalans but not take their place in SL due to stadium restrictions.

[Jimmythecuckoo]

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:54 am  

UllFC wrote:

I actually think Catalan will end in the Championship, no bottle at all, only themselves to blame though, stuck with Fresseynous for far too long and their transfer dealings have been dreadful for a good few years now.

I think that's a fairly decent summary that a lot of Dragons fans (inc myself) would agree with.

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:57 am  

Jimmythecuckoo wrote:

I think that's a fairly decent summary that a lot of Dragons fans (inc myself) would agree with.

I actually think their transfer dealings have been good. However a lot of the players they've bought look to have gone to France for a holiday. Someone needs to get in there and stamp some discipline into them. Looks like that's what McNamara was brought in for but at the wrong time. He should have been brought in at the end of the season.

[Jimmythecuckoo]

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:12 pm  

I think the problem is the players they replaced.

Is Thornley better than Blanch for example?

Were Whitehead and Taia adequately replaced?

It's been a long slow unravelling for us I feel.

Re: Calamitous Catalans battered by on fire Leigh. : Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:41 pm  

There are some good French players playing around SL and the championship that Catalans seem to have let go and replaced with aged Aussies.