Potter focused on Saints

Potter: reunited with former club in Challenge Cup

As much I still talk to some of the Catalans players, it's business for me, it's work, and I won't be going easy on them.

Mick Potter
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Mick Potter says there will be no divided loyalties when he coaches St Helens against his former club Catalans Dragons in the fifth-round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup on Sunday.

The Australian turned the Dragons from wooden spoonists to engage Super League contenders in less than three years at the helm of the Perpignan-based team.

He left at the end of last season to take over from Daniel Anderson in the Knowsley Road hot seat.

"It will be a little bit awkward I suppose but I won't be feeling sorry for them," said Potter. "My allegiance is with the St Helens club.

"As much I still talk to some of the Catalans players, it's business for me, it's work, and I won't be going easy on them."

Potter, who was succeeded at the Stade Gilbert Brutus by fellow countryman Kevin Walters, knows the majority of the Dragons players inside out but plays down the significance of his personal connections.

Information overload

"Sometimes it can be a disadvantage because you might over-read what they're going to do and you might over-complicate it for your team by giving them too much information," he added.

"So I'm trying to be wary of that and not over-burden the players. You could say there's an advantage there but, if you just watch the videos of the last 12 games, you've really got a handle on every club.

"Just because I know them personally doesn't change it too much plus Kevin might have changed a few things."

Despite his inside knowledge, Potter is unlikely to get to know the full make-up of the Dragons team until an hour before kick-off, with Walters set to make a late decision on the fitness of captain Greg Bird.

The Australian stand-off is battling to overcome groin and hamstring injuries while the Catalans are hoping scrum-half Thomas Bosc, a points machine over the last three years, and experienced prop Jason Ryles recover from injuries to return to the side.

"If all those three play, it makes it all the more difficult," admitted Potter.

Bosc praise

"Thomas really came into a class of his own over the last three years. From a kid that was a little bit green and a bit shaky and lacking confidence in his own ability, he's blossomed into a full-blown Super League player.

"He's one of those guys who just loves playing and you can put in him any position and he will pick it up straight away, he's doing a good job for them. Hopefully, he's still got that shoulder injury."

St Helens, aiming to lift the cup for a fourth successive year, will still be without England back row forward Jon Wilkin, who missed last Saturday's 38-18 defeat by Wigan in Edinburgh with a knee injury.

Saints could also be without centre or second rower Lee Gilmour, who has a knee problem, and that could force full-back Paul Wellens into another switch to the three-quarters.

"He could possibly jump into centre," said Potter. "It was borne out of necessity at Murrayfield. I was pleased with how he went but I would say he's a better full-back."

St Helens have won 16 successive cup ties stretching back to their semi-final defeat by Hull FC in 2005, a run that includes a 50-10 quarter-final win over the Catalans three years ago and a 30-8 triumph over Potter's men in the 2007 final at Wembley.