Steve McNamara: To be in Challenge Cup final a huge bonus for Catalans

Steve McNamara wants to be the first coach to lead Catalans to silverware in its short history.

The Dragons haven’t won a major trophy since their introduction into Super League in 2006.

But they did come close in 2007, reaching the Challenge Cup final for the first ever time. They went down to a 30-8 defeat to St Helens that day.

McNamara wants to steer the Dragons to a first ever major piece of silverware when they face Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup final on Saturday.

He said: “I think to be at this point, to be coming out at Wembley this week is a huge bonus for the club.

“We want to be the first to pick a trophy up for this club and we have a chance this weekend, so we’ve got to take that opportunity.

“They are a tremendous group and it’s about communication you can’t sit back as a coach, you have to push forward, you have to be front and centre of it, encourage it and embrace it and then let the players run with it.”

France international Remi Casty is one of only two members of the current Catalans side to feature in the 2007 final, alongside Vincent Duport.

And McNamara would like to see the veteran front-rower to pick up a winners’ medal on Saturday.

He added: “There’s a realisation for someone like Remi, he was a young boy when he played at Wembley last time.

“He’s 33-years-old now and I think that helps everybody understand just how rare these opportunities are and when you do get them, you have to make the most of them.”