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Super League: Team spirit key behind Catalan Dragons win, says Laurent Frayssinous

Image: Laurent Frayssinous: Delighted with the attitude his side has shown

Catalan Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous paid tribute to the team spirit of his side after their 18-16 win over Huddersfield in the Super League playoffs.

The Dragons are just 80 minutes away from reaching their first Grand Final after they prevailed in a hard-fought battle away from home for the second week in a row.

They will now face St Helens for a place at the Old Trafford showpiece after the Saints selected them as semi-final opponents under the ClubCall system.

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Dragons edge past Giants

Frayssinous cited forward Louis Anderson, who stayed behind in Perpignan to be with his wife when she gave birth to their latest child but caught a flight on the day of the game, as an example of the Dragons’ character.

"He was due to fly this morning but the flight was delayed and he didn't arrive until 4pm this afternoon. That's where the team is. We don't want to let our team-mates down,” Frayssinous said.

"We believe in each other and the boys showed character and dug in very hard. I'm very proud of them. Their attitude was great. We want to keep on believing in ourselves and challenge the team that finished first.

"Credit to the boys they dug in very hard. We have got a great attitude and don't want to let our team-mates down. We want to be proud of wearing that jersey.

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"It has been tough physically because we knew we would be tired but I am delighted with the win."

Comeback

The Dragons, who knocked out Challenge Cup winners Leeds in the first round of the play-offs, twice came from behind to beat the Giants.

We have got a great attitude and don't want to let our team-mates down. We want to be proud of wearing that jersey.
Laurent Frayssinous

The match had been in some doubt after a power failure left a part of the stadium in darkness but it kicked off on time after both clubs expressed a willingness for it to go ahead.

Frayssinous said: "We went in middle of field and said we would not find any excuses about our performances. The players have got a good attitude and they wanted to perform on the field no matter what."

Huddersfield were much improved from their 57-4 hammering at Wigan last time out but an 11th defeat in 14 playoff ties left coach Paul Anderson bitterly disappointed.

"It hurts more than last week because the year is over. We saw an improvement in some areas and the scoreline wasn't as bad as last week,” Anderson said.

"But it was a reflection of our year. We were good in patches. All year we have never strung 80 minutes together and it was the same tonight. We never turned the screw and it has been the tale of our year.

"I am massively disappointed about the season. We started round one with big expectation but consistency throughout the year cost us. It wasn't just week by week but within games.

"We have had inconsistencies within performance and individual performances throughout games. It ends up hurting you. We went into this game with every expectation of winning, going to St Helens and winning the competition. But it has gone.

"For the investment in this team and this club it's not good enough. We need to be better."

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