Super League: Catalans Dragons 48-0 Wigan Warriors

Josh Drinkwater was outstanding for Catalans against Wigan with his kicking game

Wigan Warriors had Zak Hardaker sent off as their 100% Super League start was ended by Catalans Dragons.

First-half tries from former Wigan players Michael McIlorum and Sam Tomkins were reward for their dominance of territory, possession and the ruck.

Arthur Mourgue was a livewire and capped his performance with a try to establish control after the break.

Josh Drinkwater added two tries, Mike McMeeken and Mathieu Laguerre also scoring, as Catalans ran riot.

Hardaker was sent off late on for use of the head, after leaning into England team-mate Sam Tomkins with the game well gone.

Fresh from also ending St Helens' 100 per cent start last week, Catalans showed just why they are among the title hopefuls in 2021 with a display of power, precision and rhythm that completely quelled the scoreless Warriors.

The visitors, who flew in and out in a day amid Covid-19 restrictions, found it hard in the 30-degree heat and humidity of Perpignan.

They were buzzed early on by a marauding McIlorum from close range and just could not get a foothold as the Dragons won the collisions and kept battering the defensive line.

Drinkwater had the ball on a string with the boot to create tries for Tomkins, and then for himself, while Mourgue's try caught the Wigan defence off guard from a smart offload.

To add to Wigan's woes, John Bateman received a painful and messy cut to the head, and they missed the sparkle normally offered by the absent Bevan French.

Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara:

"We've had a great start to the season and the challenge now is maintain and improve.

"It's still early on and it's a long season but I'm very happy with the way we are going.

"The patience and composure we are showing this season will carry us forward and I am very proud and happy with that performance."

Wigan coach Adrian Lam:

"That was a horror car crash and we don't have any excuses. It was an absolute embarrassment. One of the worst Wigan performances I have been associated with.

"To end the game like that with a red card just makes a bad situation worse. It was a nightmare and we can't fix it until two weeks' time because of the cup break.

"What happened was unacceptable. The challenge is for the group to respond now. I'm in complete shock. Everything went against us. I didn't see that coming."

Catalans: S Tomkins; Davies, Whare, Langi, Laguerre; Maloney, Drinkwater; Bousquet, McIlorum, Dudson, Jullien, McMeeken, Garcia.

Interchanges: Mourgue, Goudemand, J Tomkins, Kasiano.

Wigan: Hardaker; Manfredi, Bibby, Farrell, Hanley; Leuluai, Hastings; Singleton, Powell, Havard, Smithies, Bateman, Partington.

Interchanges: Bullock, Byrne, Smith, Shorrocks.

Referee: James Child (RFL)

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