Super League: Catalans 29-28 Hull KR - Dragons win with James Maloney golden point drop goal
- Published
Leeds old boy Ryan Hall's hat-trick on his first return to Headingley with Hull KR took his tally of Super League tries to 199 - the joint second best
Betfred Super League |
|---|
Catalans (18) 29 |
Tries: Yaha 2, Whitley, Laguerre, Garcia Goals: Maloney 4 Drop-goal: Maloney |
Hull KR (4) 28 |
Tries: Hall 3, Lewis, G King Goals: Abdull 4 |
Catalans Dragons avoided embarrassment as they surrendered a 28-4 lead at Emerald Headingley to be taken to extra time by Hull KR - only to win it with James Maloney's golden-point drop goal.
Catalans looked comfortable at the break, leading 18-4 after first-half tries from Fouad Yaha, Matt Whitley and young debutant Matthieu Laguerre.
Ryan Hall's hat-trick, Mikey Lewis and George King hauled it back to 28-28.
But Australian Maloney kept his cool to win it three minutes into added time.
Under-strength Catalans made a solid start, leading 12-0 after Maloney converted tries from Yaha's opener, then Whitley, fashioned by a superb long pass from Sam Tomkins.
Rovers hit back when ex-Leeds and England winger Hall, making his debut following his November return to England from Sydney Roosters, reacquainted himself with the try-line back on familiar soil.
It was his first try in two years following an injury-hit time of it down under.
But Catalans restored their 12-point lead when Tomkins fed Laguerre to score on his debut, before Maloney's third conversion stretched Dragons' advantage to 14 points at the interval.
Fouad Yaha scored two of the Catalans tries against Hull KR in Leeds
Further tries from Benjamin Garcia, in his first game as captain, and a second for Yaha made it look comfortable for Catalans.
But a solo effort from Lewis, followed by a second try for Hall gave Catalans hope - and, with 14 minutes left, they were given a man advantage when big forward Julian Bousquet spoke back to referee James Child, who sin-binned him for interrupting him and querying his decision when the official was talking.
Hall quickly cashed in to go in at the left corner to take him level with his former Leeds team-mate Keith Senior and St Helens legend Paul Wellens on 199 Super League tries, the joint second-highest tally.
That figure is bettered only by another old Leeds team-mate - and now one of Hall's coaches at Rovers - Danny McGuire, who has 247.
There was more to follow when King crashed over under the posts and Jordan Abdull landed the two points - his fourth conversion - to take it to extra time.
But the second of the day's two games, as part of Headingley's opening weekend Covid-safe bubble, now had to have one final twist to come. And the experienced Maloney provided it at the first opportunity, firing over the winning one-pointer to cap his four earlier conversions.
James Maloney's golden-point winner was the first in Super League since St Helens' Theo Fages, also against Hull KR last September
Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara:
"We were great for 55 minutes. I'm not quite sure what happened in the last 25. It certainly gave Hull KR momentum. But, after dropping down to 12 men with 15 minutes left, to be able to bounce back off the floor was really good. We were on the ropes and found a way to get back in and win it.
"Mathieu Laguerre didn't know he was playing until Thursday. He's gone in there and played extremely well. He's been with us two or three years now but he was very thin - physically he wasn't in a position to compete at that level - but he's worked hard on that.
"He always had talent. He's actually got great physique and the ability to be a really big centre. He didn't look out of place at all. It was a decision to give our young players an opportunity. There was a bit of anticipation about how they'd play but they surpassed all my expectations."
Hull KR coach Tony Smith:
"I'm pleased for Ryan but he would trade those three tries for a win. He will score a lot of tries for us this year. I said that when he arrived.
"They were out of the blocks quicker than us but we gave ourselves a chance.
"We showed what we can do and for that reason I'm pleased. But it's disappointing not to win after fighting back so hard"
Catalans Dragons: S Tomkins; Davies, Whare, Laguerre, Yaha; Maloney, Drinkwater; Garcia, Whitley, McMeeken, Goudemand, Da Costa, Bousquet.
Interchange: Mourgue, Seguier, Baitieri, Kasiano.
Hull KR: Quinlan; Crooks, Hall, Minikin, Kenny-Dowall; Lewis, Abdull; Lawler, Hadley, Linnett, Sims, Litten, King.
Interchange: Vete, Parcell, Minchella, Storton
Referee: James Child.