As Israel Folau took to the field fans chanted his name welcoming him back to rugby league for the first time in 10 years.
Folau, 30, who joined the French side on January 28, crossed after just six minutes with his first touch of the game having caught a crossfield bomb.Folau, who was playing his first rugby league match in 10 years and lined up in the centres, followed Sam Tomkins’ early try in the south of France.
More than 8000 fans were present as the hosts claimed their maiden win of the campaign in Folau’s first game since featuring for Australian rugby union side the Waratahs last April. “Yes of course I thought about ending my career and to do other things,” Folau told Perpignan newspaper“I thank the president and my coach for this opportunity they have given me. It’s like a new start for me and I am very excited to return to the sport in which I became known.
The world’s media descended on Stade Gilbert Brutus but any attempt by Castleford to steal the headlines were thwarted as early as the second minute when former NRL star James Maloney found a gap for Tomkins to stride under the posts. Castleford hit back just before the interval, two successive penalties putting centre Cheyse Blair in space on the right, Richardson’s conversion making it 20-12.The Dragons withstood early pressure from the visitors after the break with some solid defence and with Maloney marshalling the troops, Catalans capitalised on a penalty 20 metres out.
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