Super League: Catalans Dragons 22-18 Castleford Tigers -Mike McMeeken scores late winner

Mike McMeeken (right) punished his old club with a match-winning try

Mike McMeeken's late try sealed victory for Catalans Dragons and snatched a priceless Super League win away from struggling Castleford Tigers.

The ex-Tigers prop powered over after stand-in half Jack Broadbent's second score gave the visitors the lead.

Paul Seguier had opened the scoring before Broadbent's first, followed by Tom Johnstone and Arthur Mourgue tries.

Jordan Turner pulled one back before Broadbent went in, but McMeeken's telling touchdown eased the home fears.

The fortunes of the two sides, even at this early stage of the season, could not be more different, as a Dragons line-up with five wins from six welcomed a Tigers side yet to find their purr in 2023, having won just once.

Yet their performance suggested Castleford are closer to a competitive unit than their league position indicates, as interim coach Andy Last saw plenty of effort and quality at times, made the more impressive having confirmed a bout of sickness within his squad during the camp in France.

Without former England half-back Gareth Widdop, the Tigers needed Greg Eden, Jacob Miller and in particular Broadbent to step up - and the latter certainly imposed himself.

First he was in the right place to pick up on a loose ball for his opening try, and his second was a swerving, space-carving run through the cover to score from deep.

Eden supplied the pass for Turner's try, while Miller along with several other team-mates came up with crucial defensive plays to keep Catalans at bay.

For Catalans boss Steve McNamara, the result ensured they avoided back-to-back defeats, and he can reflect on some key interventions from his side to deliver the points.

Johnstone's 100th career try came from a smart assist by Cesar Rouge, operating in the halves; Mourgue was typically elusive as he slinked through for his score and Tom Davies reacted acrobatically to turn the ball inside for Seguier's score.

The win, though, was as much about attitude as it was skill, and in finding a way over late on and in stemming Cas' desperate flow with Davies' tackle on Mahe Fonua, they took the two points to stay in touch with leaders Warrington and fellow challengers Wigan and St Helens.

Catalans boss Steve McNamara:

"I'm as proud of the group as I've ever been tonight. These players have been through an extremely difficult week for a number of reasons, which I won't go into.

"We finished the game tired against Leeds and we looked tired tonight. I detest the way we played tonight, we had opportunities to put the game away from Castleford and we could have been breathing a lot easier at the end of the game.

"But we missed those chances because we were tired and we somehow managed to find a way to win it in the last few minutes."

Castleford interim boss Andy Last:

"We're absolutely devastated. To come here to a quality side like Catalans, they are a difficult team to play against anywhere but here in Perpignan and we take them to the last couple of sets of the game…I am very proud of our players.

"After all of our effort we haven't come away with the points and that's what it's all about. Our travelling support has been superb and they know the lads are trying hard.

"I did think we'd won the game when Jack Broadbent went 80 metres to score but we couldn't quite see it out and that's where we're at against the best teams in the competition."

Catalans: Mourgue; Johnstone, Keighran, Laguerre, Davies; Rouge, Pearce; McMeeken, Da Costa, Bousquet, Whitley, Seguier, Garcia

Interchanges: Navarette, Chan, Dezaria, Tomkins [Scimone]

Castleford: Eden; Faraimo, Sutcliffe, Turner, Fonua; Broadbent, Miller; Massey, McShane, Matagi, Griffin, Mellor, Westerman

Interchanges: Lawler, Edwards, Vete, Smith [Mustapha]

Referee: Jack Smith

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