Magic Weekend: French Flair

This is an extract from the Dacia Magic Weekend programme which is available for £5 on events days and via Curtis Sports website here.

French flair - Young Dragons are breathing fire at the top end of the table

There’s little doubt that Catalans starlet Arthur Mourgue has been one of the shining lights of the Betfred Super League season.

Mourgue, 22, may have made his first team debut back in 2018 against Warrington, but it is this year that he has established himself as a key figure for Steve McNamara’s Dragons.

Ever since his cameo role in the dramatic opening weekend golden point win over Hull KR, Mourgue has been terrorising opposition defences with his blistering pace and eye for a gap.

Whether filling in for the absence of others, or providing a dangerous option from the bench, Mourgue has played his full part in Catalans’ challenge for the League Leaders’ Shield.

“For me personally it’s been a great experience,?? Mourgue said.

“I’ve had the chance to play more minutes, which is what I needed, and to play a more important role in the team.

“The team has been doing well and winning, and we all want to keep working hard now.??

The ability to play and train alongside vastly experienced playmakers like Sam Tomkins and James Maloney has undoubtedly aided Mourgue’s development.

“I always look at their way of playing and try to take bits from them for my game,?? he explained.

“I want to keep my style of game, but I know I can improve. They offer to give me advice and are really helpful, it’s a good opportunity for me.

“At the beginning of the year Steve gave me the number one shirt and set me some targets. He’s tried to give me a big role in the team and helped me to improve.??

Mourgue the magician ✨

A brilliant individual try to put @DragonsOfficiel ahead live on @SkySportsRL 🤩#SuperLeague #SLLeeCat pic.twitter.com/CaOPsAOO4J
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 9, 2021

Mourgue is certainly not the only locally-produced player featuring prominently in McNamara’s squad, with Matthieu Laguerre, Corentin Le Cam, César Rougé and Romain Franco among others that have played this year.

Mourgue said: “It’s really exciting, and all of the crowd in Catalans like it when French players are in the team.

“Everybody is excited at the moment and for myself it’s great to play alongside my friends and guys I’ve played with since we were kids.

“With Toulouse doing well too, the spotlight is on us in France. Having two teams in Super League would be really good for us.??

Before that though, the Dragons have a mouth-watering Dacia Magic Weekend meeting with St Helens to prepare for as they look to continue their season of consistency. When the teams met in Perpignan back in May, Catalans laid down a marker with a 20-16 win, only for Saints to avenge that by ending the French side’s club-record winning run in August.

Mourgue added: “We had a good pre-season, there is great talent in the team and everybody is playing together for each other.

“That it why we’ve done well so far this year, and we’ve shown character.

“We’re really excited to play St Helens. The last time we played we had the chance to go and get the job done but lost, now we get another chance.??

Tickets for Dacia Magic Weekend are still available priced from £25 for adults and £12.50 for Juniors. For more information and to book visit here.