WARRINGTON Wolves’ 2024 Super League season has started with defeat in France.
Despite being reduced to 12 men immediately after half time thanks to Michael McIlorum’s sending-off, hosts Catalans Dragons were able to muscle out a 16-10 victory in Perpignan.
The goal-kicking of Arthur Mourgue proved the difference, with the Catalans full-back notching two penalties and two conversions to get his side home.
The Wire looked like taking a half-time lead in head coach Sam Burgess’ first Super League game in charge thanks to an acrobatic effort from teenage debut Arron Lindop, who dived over in the right corner.
However, a mix-up between Lindop and Matt Dufty gifted Jordan Abdull a try on the hooter - the pair left Abdull's kick for one another, with Tom Johnstone picking up on the bounce and offloading for the on-loan Hull KR man to power over, with Mourgue’s goal giving the hosts a 6-4 lead.
That lead was put in immediate jeopardy after half time when, having hit Joe Philbin with a shoulder charge to the head, McIlorum was shown red by referee Chris Kendall.
However, it only served to kick Catalans into another gear and Mourgue kicked another penalty before scooting over for a try, using his pace to slip between Lindop and Connor Wrench.
Wire struggled for a response but eventually found one when, having linked up with George Williams, Dufty broke through the middle and found Paul Vaughan, who shovelled an offload back to the full-back to cut the gap.
Unfortunately for Wire, though, they could not close the gap further and lost Jordy Crowther to a harsh sin-binning in the final 10 minutes, allowing Mourgue to kick his side to victory.
12-man Catalans beat Warrington in Round One - post-match reaction
> THE FINAL WORD: Some signs of progress but size of Burgess' task is clear
> STAT ATTACK: The key difference between success and failure in France
> Lachlan Fitzgibbon on what he thought was Wire's 'downfall' in Perpignan
> FAN PICS: Wire supporters share their pictures from Super League Round One
> THE MORNING AFTER: Key takeaways and talking points from Catalans loss
> WIRE SOCIAL: How fans have reacted to defeat in Perpignan
> What Sam Burgess has said about Wire's opening-day defeat
> 'Both coaches can feel happy with things,' says Catalans boss after Round One
> Re-live the action from the Stade Gilbert Brutus as it happened
Match facts:
Super League, Round One
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Catalans Dragons...16 Warrington Wolves...10
Dragons: Arthur Mourgue; Tom Davies, Arthur Romano, Matt Ikuvalu, Tom Johnstone; Jordan Abdull, Theo Fages; Romain Navarrete, Micky McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Tariq Sims, Paul Seguier, Mike McMeeken. Subs: Jayden Nikorima, Bayley Sironen, Chris Satae, Jordan Dezaria. 18th man: Alrix Da Costa
Wolves: Matt Dufty; Arron Lindop, Connor Wrench, Toby King, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Josh Drinkwater; Zane Musgrove, Danny Walker, James Harrison, Ben Currie, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Jordy Crowther. Subs: Paul Vaughan, Joe Philbin, Gil Dudson, Sam Powell. 18th man: Adam Holroyd
Scoring: Lindop try, 18mins, 0-4; Abdull try, 38mins, Mourgue goal, 6-4; Mourgue penalty, 46mins, 8-4; Mourgue try, 50mins, Mourgue goal, 14-4; Dufty try, 63mins, Drinkwater goal, 14-10; Mourgue penalty, 73mins, 16-10
Penalties: Dragons 7 Wolves 6
Red card: McIlorum (41mins, shoulder charge)
Yellow card: Crowther (69mins, late hit)
Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 8,876
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