Magic Preview: Breathing Fire

Catalans forward ready for more Magic Weekend drama

IF any team knows to expect the unexpected at Magic Weekend then it’s Catalans Dragons.

At last year’s event, with the League Leaders’ Shield on the line, the French side trailed rivals St Helens 30-12 with little over four minutes remaining.

What unfolded then will forever remain in Magic folklore.

Quick-fire converted tries from Dean Whare, Gil Dudson and Sam Kasiano somehow sent the match into Golden Point extra-time in front of a stunned St James’ Park.

Then Australian half-back James Maloney stepped forward to kick the decisive drop goal from 40 metres out, clinching top spot in Super League for the first time in Catalans’ history.

For Dragons back rower Mike McMeeken, it was a game he will never forget.

“In the past there have been some very, very special games at Magic Weekend and that match against Saints last year was personally right up there,?? McMeeken explained.

“Anything can happen in these matches and hopefully that makes the event more attractive for people to head to Newcastle.

“It’s a great concept, having all the teams playing in one stadium, and fans from all over Super League can get together and hopefully see some more exciting games.??

Catalans return to Newcastle again among the competition front runners, but with McMeeken and his team-mates having mixed views on their campaign so far.

“We’ve been very up and down,?? he admitted.

“We’ve had some games where we’ve been very good in spells, and others where we’ve not been good enough.

“The positive is that we’ve been picking up the two points even though we’ve been going into review afterwards knowing we can do better.

“That’s come from the togetherness that we have as a team now - it might not always be pretty, but we always work hard.

“I wasn’t here five years ago but there was a time where you wouldn’t expect Catalans to pick up two points on the road. Now, we pride ourselves on being tough to beat at home but also when we’re away, and that’s been driven by Steve (McNamara) as coach at the top, right down to everybody in the squad.

“We’re a team that wants to be up at the top challenging every year.??

It’s been an interesting campaign so far for McMeeken on a personal level, having spent time in the front row during an early season prop crisis, before returning to the England fold against the Combined All Stars.

The only negative has been a recent broken thumb that will keep him out of this weekend’s clash with Warrington.

He added: “I really enjoyed playing in the middle, I was surprised how much. I came away from those games thinking I could actually stay there and would be happy to.

 “It adds another dimension to my game and enables to play there again if I’m needed.??

Player in Form - Mitchell Pearce

Former Australia and New South Wales star Pearce arrived in France with an impressive CV and significant boots to fill.

His predecessor James Maloney had played a key role in steering the Dragons to last year’s Grand Final and Pearce was seen as the man to help take Steve McNamara’s side to the next level.

Since landing in Perpignan, Pearce’s influence on the side has grown week-by-week, and his standing among the pacesetters for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel illustrates how important he is to Catalans.

One to Watch - Joe Chan

Such has been Joe Chan’s impact on the Catalans Dragons first team, that he has been scouted by one of the most respected clubs in the world.

Next season Chan will link up with Melbourne Storm in the NRL after coach Craig Bellamy identified him as one of the sport’s rising stars.

Before then he has a key role to play with the Dragons, where his strong running off the bench and eye for a try have been features of their push for the play-offs.

This article is taken from the Magic Weekend programme, copies of which can be ordered online via Curtis Sports.