Catalans Dragons boss Trent Robinson says his side needs to learn their lessons from their 46-6 thrashing at the hands of Wigan as they attempt to save their Super League premiership campaign.
Robinson, the incoming Sydney Roosters coach for 2013, admitted his team were overawed in their opening play-off loss to the Warriors.
George Carmont’s hat-trick proved decisive and Robinson said his side needs to lift their game to semi-finals standard. Wigan have now defeated Catalans by a combined total of 90-6 in their past two finals meetings.
“Wigan taught us another lesson in a semi-final,” Robinson said.
“You build yourselves up for these games. We fought hard to finish in the four and get into these semi-finals. We’re a better team but we didn’t show it.
“It was pretty disappointing. Right from the first whistle, we struggled to defend their plays.
“I thought we took a lot of short-cuts which is disappointing and we just didn’t work hard enough for the position on the ground.”
Former Wests Tigers second-rower Willie Manu marked his final game for Hull FC at the KC Stadium by featuring in a crushing 46-10 win over Huddersfield Giants – a result that took his side into the preliminary semi-finals of the Super League play-offs.
Manu, a former Tonga international, will make the switch to St Helens in the 2013 season but was a key figure for the Black and Whites as they notched eight tries on Sunday.
“It’s my last game at the KC Stadium so it was nice,” he said.
“But I need to credit our middle guys, they laid the platform us the win and we get the easy job out wide.
“We knew at halftime we played well in the first half and we just had to go and do the same in the second and we got the points in the end.”
On Saturday, St Helens coach Mike Rush claimed returning centre Iosia Soliola was the difference in their 28-6 triumph at Warrington Wolves.
The former New Zealand international, who was rested for the final Super League fixture of the regular season against Wigan Warriors, came back with a bang to fire the Saints to the qualifying semi-final.
“I’m not sure Sia knew where he was playing when he came on, but he was so determined to get to the field and charge around at 3,000 miles an hour,” said Rush.
“We got caught out a little on their first try – we didn’t get our numbering up right, but that might be over-critical. As a player the club and town couldn’t ask anything else of him.”
On the wrong end of an elimination play-off defeat was Wakefield Trinity’s Ali Lauitiiti – who admits reigning champions Leeds Rhinos were worthy 42-20 winners.
The former New Zealand Warrior notched a try for the visitors but the class of Danny McGuire, who grabbed his 200th Super League try, and Kevin Sinfield, who kicked seven goals, was too much for the Wildcats.
“Their transitions were really fast and they kept capitalising on our mistakes,” said 33-year-old Lauitiiti.
“They’ve just got the class and players like that you just can’t compete with when they’re on fire and on a roll.”