Second-half tries from former Sydney Roosters centre Setaimata Sa and Daryl Millard ensured last year’s surprise Super League package Catalan Dragons started the new season with a comfortable win at Bradford Bulls.
Sa, who made over 60 appearances for the Roosters before switching to the Dragons in 2010, scored straight after the restart with ex-Canterbury Bulldogs centre Millard following suit 13 minutes later as the French outfit ran out 34-12 winners.
Australian fullback Clint Greenshields, along with Jason Baitieri and Thomas Bosc, helped set up the win with tries in the first half while Scott Dureau, once of Newcastle Knights, was near perfect with the boot kicking five goals.
Bradford responded late in the second half – Jamie Langley and Elliot Kear scoring and Luke Gale kicking two goals – but a Sebastien Raguin try in between ensured the Dragons troops always had a healthy cushion.
Coached by Australian Trent Robinson the win slots them straight in at the top of the Super League with Leeds, Wakefield, Castleford, St Helens and Huddersfield all starting the new campaign victorious.
Last year’s grand final runners-up St Helens – continuing under former Australia assistant Royce Simmons – came from behind to beat the rebranded London Broncos 34-24.
The Broncos got off to a flying start with Michael Robertson, who was part of Manly Sea Eagles’ NRL grand final winning side last year, and fellow Australian Michael Witt combining to put them 18-16 up at halftime.
Robertson opened his try account for his new club in the ninth minute as further scores from Olsi Krasniqi and Chris Bailey and three Witt goals cancelled out Jonny Lomax and Andrew Dixon’s efforts for Saints.
However Jamie Foster – who booted seven goals in the game, four of which were in the first half, Francis Meli and James Roby all touched down after the break as St Helen’s came out on top.
Witt scored for the Broncos in the second half and added a goal but it was in vain while Leeds, who beat St Helen’s in last year’s grand final, ensured Craig Sandercock’s first game in charge of Hull KR ended in defeat.
Ex-Gold Coast Titans centre Brett Delaney and Brent Webb both scored but it was Kallum Watkins’ hat-trick that ensured former Newcastle Knights assistant Sandercock started with a 34-16 loss.
However that wasn’t the case for Ian Millward – who was last employed in the NRL as an assistant at Canberra Raiders – as he began life with Castleford with a 24-10 win over Salford.
Another new coach from Australia, Peter Gentle, was left to rue wing Rhys Evans’ last-gasp try as compatriot Tony Smith’s Warrington earned a 20-20 draw against Hull FC.
Huddersfield ensured Nathan Brown’s last season in charge began with a 20-16 win over Wigan as two tries in the space of eight minutes from Larne Patrick proved to be just enough.
Meanwhile Super League new-boys Widnes couldn’t get their campaign off to the perfect start as New Zealand duo Ali Lauitiiti and Isaac John combined to help Wakefield to a 32-14 triumph.
Ex-New Zealand Warriors second-row Lauitiiti, a new signing from Leeds, scored the first of six tries for the Wildcats with former Parramatta Eels halfback Tim Smith also going over as John kicked four goals.
