Every game like a Grand Final admits Toulouse boss Sylvain Houles
Toulouse head coach Sylvain Houles admits that every match is like a Grand Final or Million Pound Game following their heart-breaking 20-14 defeat to Castleford.
Mahe Fonua scored the match-winner eight minutes before time to send the Tigers to sixth position, overtaking Hull KR, who lost to St Helens.
Toulouse remain at the foot of the Super League table, with two wins so far. They now sit six points behind Wakefield following their 30-24 victory over Warrington at Belle Vue.
Super League’s newest club are facing a mountain to climb after 13 losses from 15, and next travel to Wigan following the international break.
Houles admitted: “We still believe. Obviously, the players and staff are fed up of losing.
“We’re not short of effort at every level at this club and we will fight until we cannot do so any more.
“We have belief and our job is still the same, there are 12 games to go and three teams above us on 10 points.
“So let’s go and get them, we know what we have to do.
“Every game now is a Million Pound game or Grand Final for us. We have to prepare for every one of those opportunities.”
Lee Radford praises Tigers
Opposing head coach Lee Radford praised his side following their close victory in France.
He said: “That’s a really rewarding result in such hot conditions.
“Prior to arriving they said it would be around the 31 degrees area but with the sun it felt much hotter pitch-side.
“It’s impossible to prepare for that, even the home team struggled but I can understand why they complete high and get very methodical in these conditions, you have to, to survive.
“We took our opportunities well, and so did they, we need to work on our right edge defence.
“Our effort probably deserved the result today.
“Our supporters were really good today and it was important that we showed our appreciation at the end there.
“When fans come this far and invest in the club it’s so important that we get the win for them.
“It was a real war of attrition and I’m so pleased that we won it today.
“I though Ryan (Hampshire) was really good at full-back and that competition at the back with Niall (Evalds) will be good for us too.”
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