Set of Six: Catalans 8-24 Warrington

A terrific away win for Warrington on Saturday as they came from behind to defeat the Catalans Dragons and get two more points on the board.

A poor offload allowed James Maloney to score the opening try but Wire hit back with a try from Ben Currie after a stunning break from Daryl Clark before Gareth Widdop's pinpoint kick found Toby King on the stroke of half-time. Jake Mamo's expert interception try extended the lead after the break before a late score from Widdop put the seal on the victory. Here are my six major talking points...

1) The best win since?
For me, that was Warrington's hardest and best win since the victory over Hull in 2020 when Wire were missing so many players. A great effort in defence, coupled with some individual brilliance for the tries, got the club their first win in Perpignan since 2018, and a thoroughly deserved one. Yes, the attack still wasn't clicking, but the effort was sensational to get on top in the middle.

2) Forward thinking
Whenever you play against Catalans, you accept that you've got to deal with their monstrous forwards. Fair play then to Chris Hill, Mike Cooper, Matt Davis, Jason Clark and Robbie Mulhern, who helped get on top of the Dragons' forwards, dominate the middle and lay a platform for the backs to work with.

3) Super Six?
Blake Austin was dropped for this game, a big call from Steve Price. It's one that worked too, with Gareth Widdop playing really well in the halves next to Stefan Ratchford, who didn't have a great game in place of Austin, but the Australian may find it hard to get back in the team now, particularly with Ashton covering Ratchford so well at full-back.

4) Cloud Nine
Daryl Clark. Daryl flaming Clark. He's a player who is capable of changing a game in an instant and that's what he did, darting from dummy-half and dragging Wire back into the game. Gold Coast, Brisbane and Canterbury have been linked with him, and he'd improve all three of those teams. 

5) Centres of excellence
Both centres, Toby King and Jake Mamo, had really good games today. King has been magnificent for a while now, while Mamo has started 2021 in positive fashion and scored a lovely intercept try today. With Greg Inglis in the team next week against Hull KR, who drops out? Will Mamo be moved out to the wing?

6) Deja Vu
In Steve Price's first season in 2018, Wire started the season terribly before going to Catalans and getting a hard-fought win which sparked a long run of victories. Could this do the same?

Player Ratings
Matty Ashton - 7/10
Was very comfortable at full-back and while he didn't do much in attack, was very solid defensively.
Josh Thewlis - 6/10
Hardly anything to note but another solid showing.
Toby King - 8/10
Really good display. Leapt well to score a try and was good defensively too.
Jake Mamo - 8/10
A great interception try and looked to make things happen.
Josh Charnley - 7/10
Much improved. Still didn't get any ball in dangerous areas but carried the ball well.
Stefan Ratchford - 6/10
Not his best game, he never seems to quite click in the halves.
Gareth Widdop - 9/10
Really good today. Controlled much of the game from the halves and moments of quality for two tries.
Chris Hill - 8/10
A few early discipline issues but once he settled down he was superb.
Daryl Clark - 9/10
Took a game that Wire were struggling in by the scruff of the neck and changed it in an instant.
Mike Cooper - 8/10
Wire's forwards were everywhere today. And made a great try-saving tackle.
Ben Currie - 7/10
On Clark's shoulder for the first try and was really good defensively.
Jack Hughes - 8/10
That was definitely his best performance of the season - ran the ball well and worked hard.
Matt Davis - 8/10
Definitely Wire's best option at 13. Tackled like a man possessed.
Jason Clark - 8/10
Really strong display. Prevented a certain try with an amazing tackle in the second half.
Joe Philbin - 6/10
Doesn't seem quite as effective this season, not sure why.
Robbie Mulhern - 7/10
Another good showing. Worked really hard.
Danny Walker - 6/10
Entered the fray late on to give Clark some respite.

@ALooseWire