Catalans up for the Challenge Cup | Steve McNamara previews forthcoming Quarter-Final

Catalans Dragons will be hoping to reach the Betfred Challenge Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2018 on Friday night – the same year in which they lifted their maiden Challenge Cup trophy and became competition history makers.

The French side have home advantage this Friday when they welcome Salford Red Devils to Stade Gilbert Brutus, and head coach Steve McNamara, who masterminded their famous 2018 victory at Wembley, understands the magnitude of their upcoming cup tie:

“Our concentration is on ourselves this week – it’s a quarter-final and it’s two teams with an opportunity of a semi-final, so the stakes are high and we’re preparing for that.”

McNamara’s men last faced Salford in the 2020 Quarter-Finals where a Golden Point spectacle unfolded.

Salford never led in the entirety of the 80 minutes – and it was Dan Sarginson's dramatic winning effort in extra-time which sent the eventual Finalists into the last four.

And although on the losing side that day, it’s a fixture McNamara hasn’t forgotten:

“I remember that game because it was my birthday!” said McNamara, who masterminded Catalans’ first ever Challenge Cup Final victory in 2018.

“Salford beat us in Golden Point extra time back in COVID times.”

The Dragons have reached the quarters every year since (excluding 2023), although they haven’t quite been able to book a semi-final spot.

With this opportunity on the horizon once again, it’s something McNamara and the Dragons are fiercely targeting:

“It’s not a record that we’re happy or proud of,” said McNamara.

“We’ve had some opportunities in this past and we’ve missed those opportunities, so we certainly need to take this one.

“Winning the Challenge Cup in 2018 was a huge part of the club’s history. It’s been a long time since we’ve progressed to the semi-finals stage.

“We’re not concentrating on trying to go anywhere past that, we just know we’ve got a tough game here on Friday night.”

Catalans come into this game on the back of a tight loss to St Helens in the Betfred Super League – with Jonny Lomax’s dramatic drop goal the only thing separating the two sides.

On home soil for the second week running, the French side are raring to go, as McNamara reflected on last Saturday’s defeat:

“It was a very high-quality game – two very good teams playing against each other. It was fine margins, so we need to find out why we lost that game.

“We especially looked at the period in the first half where we conceded two tries in the first ten minutes. There were other aspects as well – probably how we dealt with the last ten minutes.

“We’ve had a really constructive and positive review and education of the players from that game. It a high quality and a tough game, but we were pleased to be a part of it.

“My players have come back into training with energy and managing this week going to be very important to make sure we’re ready for Friday night.”

Can Catalans claim a spot in the final four? Or will Salford Red Devils cause problems in the south of France?

A full Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals Preview can be found here.

Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!