08 September 2023 , 21:15
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Mark Applegarth admits it feels like Groundhog Day for his dejected Wakefield side.
They look doomed for relegation after crashing to yet another defeat. Catalans, with a 13th straight win over Trinity, were always in control as they returned to the top of Super League. But, at the other end, bottom-placed Wakefield are now four points adrift of Castleford after their fierce rivals rubbed salt into the wounds with a crucial win against Hull.
With only two games to go, things are looking utterly bleak for the West Yorkshire club who have been in the top-flight since 1999. They were 18-0 down until Kelelpi Tanginoa’s 74th minute consolation, Lee Kershaw racing in for a 90m intercept in the final seconds, Max Jowitt converting. Even an unlikely win at Leigh on Friday and victory over Hull KR on the final night is not likely to be enough to save them from dropping out of Super League for the first time.
Applegarth admitted: “When playing a top-four team you can’t leave yourselves too much to do. We did that. The first half we were too ill-disciplined. We coughed up too much ball to go in 12-0 down. It feels like Groundhog Day - the effort and application is there. It’s smarts we lack.
“We’ve got two games we need to win - and hope Cas slip up. The lads are dejected in there but we’ll be fighting ‘til the death.”
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Catalans' Tom Johnstone scores against Wakefield (Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)Catalans emerged from their own slump - rare back-to-back defeats - courtesy of tries from ex-Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone, Wigan-bound Adam Keighran and Tom Davies. Keighran added three goals but captain Ben Garcia was put on report for an alleged attack to the knees of Wakefield’s Renouf Atonoi. Wakefield had Sam Eseh sin-binned in the first half for a dangerous tackle on Arthur Morgue who didn’t return for the second period due to rib damage.
Catalans boss Steve McNamara said: “It was a hard night. Wakefield gave everything. We were far from perfect but this is the start for us. We’d been unhappy with a couple of losses but it’s about getting back on track and building into the end of season momentum. We did that.”