WHEN Warrington Wolves, Catalans Dragons and the Challenge Cup are thrown together, many people’s minds are cast back to five years ago.

The meeting between the two at Wembley Stadium in 2018 ended in heartbreak for The Wire but for the Dragons, it was a historic occasion as they became the first foreign side to lift the famous old trophy.

It was a seminal moment for French rugby league as a whole and ever since, Catalans have been firmly established as contenders for the game’s biggest prizes.

Warrington Guardian: Catalans joy and Warrington despair at Wembley in 2018Catalans joy and Warrington despair at Wembley in 2018 (Image: SWPix.com)

Since their glorious victory, however, the Challenge Cup has not been kind to them – they have exited at the quarter-final stage in each of the past four years, including at Wire’s hands in 2021.

As the sides prepare to meet again in the sixth-round in Perpignan, Catalans boss Steve McNamara is keen to return his side to the final stages of knockout competition.

“It was a great day for our club – it was our first trophy and it put us and French rugby league on the map if you like,” he said.

“Since then, we’ve progressed quite clearly in the league, but we haven’t been back in the cup. We need to do that.”

In what to many is the pick of the sixth-round ties, two of Super League giants are facing off at the Stade Gilbert Brutus for the second time in just over a month.

That day, The Wire ran out 20-14 victors in a highly-charged affair and with both sides strengthened in terms of returning personnel since then, this contest promises to be even better.

Warrington Guardian: Josh Thewlis touches down in Perpignan last monthJosh Thewlis touches down in Perpignan last month (Image: Joe Richardson/Warrington Wolves)

McNamara is hoping for a similar kind of game but with one obvious difference.

“We had a great game against them a few weeks back here – it was a great game and a great occasion so hopefully it’s the same again just with a different result,” he said.

“I don’t really think it matters who you play at this stage – we know we’re going to have to play well to win this game and this competition, but we will.

“We know Warrington are the form team in Super League – they’re four points clear at the top so we know we’re playing a good team.”