Josh Drinkwater has nothing to prove to Steve McNamara after 'sour note' ending
Josh Drinkwater says he doesn't need to prove anything to Catalans boss Steve McNamara - especially having landed on his feet at unbeaten Warrington.
The Australian half-back, 30, makes his first return to Perpignan today since being told he wasn’t needed for 2023. Drinkwater was axed towards the end of last season with McNamara preferring ex-NRL star Tyrone May.
But he joined Warrington for this campaign and has been ever-present with the early Super League leaders. They have chalked up seven wins from seven ahead of visiting Dragons who started the Easter period in second spot.
Does that prove a point to McNamara that he got it wrong?
Drinkwater, who won the 2018 Challenge Cup in his first spell at Dragons, insisted: “No. I’m past that now at my age. Maybe in the past I would have felt I had to prove a point.
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“I really enjoyed my time at Catalans. I had three great years there and loved the place. It probably ended on a sour note and I was disappointed how it ended.
“I thought I deserved a little more respect the way it went down but I understand rugby league is a business and he had to do what he had to do. I don’t hold any grudges. I’ve landed on my feet at Warrington.
“I’m lucky that I'm with such a good club. I joined this team, spoke with Daryl (Powell) and it was a new start and an exciting start for me with the players we’d signed. I’m very grateful. And winning seven from seven helps.”
To make that eight from eight will take arguably their biggest effort of the season. Catalans have lost just once so far and Drinkwater knows all about how hostile the Stade Gilbert Brutus - and his former team - can be.
Catalans Dragons' coach Steve McNamara (Richard Sellers/PA Wire)The ex-Hull KR schemer added: “Playing in that team, I know physicality is their strength. I know they want a physical battle and will want to take it to us. It should be a great game. It’s two big clubs and two teams who want success each year and if they don’t win a comp, it’s a bit of a failure.
“It’s a massive challenge going across there. Being a part of that club I know what it’s like playing in France, how good the crowd is to play off as the home team - and how hard it is as the away side.
“I had a great time and great three years there. I won a couple of trophies. We didn’t win the Grand Final but we won the Cup and the League Leaders. I couldn’t have asked for a better time.
“And I know it’s a big test for us at Warrington going there but one we’re really looking forward to.”
Drinkwater has instantly formed a quality partnership with England stand-off George Williams who’s been Super League’s top performer so far for red-hot Warrington.
He said: “We’ve won in different ways - beaten some teams by plenty and had real close games, too. But I think we’re only at 60 or 70 percent of what we’re capable of. We’ve had a fair few injuries to deal with so far so we’ve not had a real lot of continuity yet.
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“Once everyone does start getting fit over this next little period hopefully we’ll get better again. We’ve three big games coming up with Catalans, Saints and Wigan so I guess we’ll really see what we’re about after these three weeks.”
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