Maurel: Toulouse must win at Halifax

Toulouse back Tony Maurel believes that Olympique’s away clash with Halifax this weekend is a must-win encounter for the French side.

Away form has already looked wobbly for the French outfit this season, with cross-Channel trips to Wakefield to face Sheffield, and to Odsal to face Bradford, ending in defeat.

Their trip to face Fax this weekend is their second consecutive away game, and Maurel knows that it is a game that has to be won, if TO are serious about reaching Super League this season.

“We knew from the beginning of the season that we would have to travel twice in a row,” he said.

“And this is not the only time in the season when it will happen, so we deal with it, because the calendar says we must.

“Above all, we face Halifax, who are a big team. They are on the up after their first two victories of the season, and have just won 20-6 at Rochdale, and that is generally difficult to do at Rochdale!

“We have to be ready to go out for a big game because we have to go to Halifax, we need those two points – we have no choice.

“If we want to continue to aim for the top four, we have no choice. We have to prevail or we may fall behind our competitors.”

Maurel is sure that the team can bounce back from the 29-22 loss at Bradford last week.

“For the moment, we cannot reproduce in England what we do at home,” he said.

“The group was, of course, disappointed with the defeat at Bradford, but we quickly moved on.

“It is necessary to advance. We are focused on Halifax, Bradford now belongs to the past.

“Halifax, it’s going to be a big game, but we’re looking forward to winning it, because everybody wants to get that away win, and will do whatever it takes.”