Super League: Catalans Dragons 12-32 Huddersfield Giants - French side without Israel Folau

Aidan Sezer contributed 16 of Huddersfield's 32 points on his Super League debut

Aidan Sezer inspired Huddersfield to a opening-round Super League win against a Catalans Dragons side who were without the controversial Israel Folau.

The sacked Australian rugby union international is yet to arrive in France, but even in his absence he has overshadowed the first round of games.

Huddersfield's marquee signing Sezer created one try and scored another to given them a 16-6 half-time lead.

Jermaine McGillvary's tries either side of the break helped seal the victory.

Catalans came in for heavy criticism leading up to the game in Perpignan after signing Folau, who was sacked by Rugby Australia last year for writing homophobic posts on social media.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) and Super League said they "deplored" Folau's previous comments and that it was "a difficult decision" to allow him into the competition.

The "moral responsibility" for the move, the RFL argued, was on Catalans.

• Ex-Australia back Folau joins Catalans

• Sezer impressed by 'tight-knit' Giants

While the debut of one of the British game's most provocative figures will likely come at Wakefield on 9 February, the Dragons did introduce star half-back James Maloney .

But Maloney - State of Origin winner with New South Wales last season - had to see out 10 minutes late on in the sin bin for apparently striking Adam O'Brien.

Before that he was outshone by another of his fellow Australians, 28-year-old Sezer, who was instrumental from the outset, sending a grubbed kick through for Joe Wardle to score the opening try.

Sezer, a NRL grand finalist with the Canberra Raiders last season, then grabbed a touchdown of his own after McGillvary went over for the visitors' second score.

Fouad Yaha then replied while the Dragons were still a man down following Ben Garcia's sin-binning for a dangerous tackle and Sam Tomkins' try got the hosts back to within four points soon after the restart.

But a Louis Senior try, a second from McGillvary and two successful penalty kicks from Sezer to go with his four conversions completed a comprehensive win.

Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara:

"We've made the signing. We've made the statement. There will be further stuff to follow - but not right now.

"Another outside back is going to be good for us. We're down right there at the moment with Lewis Tierney out and Tom Davies.

"Brayden Wiliame has left, so we're a little bit short in those areas and it would be nice to have an extra body on board.

"We're clearly disappointed with our performance. We failed to build any pressure whatsoever on the opposition. Every time we looked like we had found our rhythm we found a way to either give a penalty away or make an error."

Huddersfield Giants coach Simon Woolford:

"Catalans made a decision to sign Israel. They haven't broken any rules in signing him. There's been a lot of discussion and a lot of clubs are against it.

"But he's here now and it's a good signing for the Catalans, full credit to them. They've got a good player. We'll see how it plays over the next week, especially once he starts playing.

"Aidan Sezer's made a huge difference to our team. It's obvious for all to see. He's played 160 NRL games, he's composed and not much rattles him. He's such a good goalkicker as well.

"His kicking game, along with Lee Gaskell showed a good variety. They put Catalans under a lot of pressure. The more they play together the more dangerous they are going to be."

Catalans Dragons: S Tomkins; Romano, Langi, Mead, Yaha; Maloney, Drinkwater; Bousquet, McIlorum, Casty, J Tomkins, Whitley, Garcia.

Interchanges: Simon, Jullien, Baitieri, Kasiano.

Huddersfield Giants: McIntosh; McGillvary, Wood, Jk Wardle, L Senior; Gaskell, Sezer; Matagi, O'Brien, English, Murphy, Jo Wardle, Lawrence.

Interchanges: Gavet, Edwards, Ta'ai, Clough.

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas.

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