Head coach Steve McNamara has won many plaudits for transforming the French side into a club who can challenge rugby league's established order and is full of respect for their rivals who have been crowned champions a total of 15 times in their history, with eight of those coming in the Super League era. fille sans habille "You can look at Catalans teams of old and they have probably not had that away-game consistency in the past, but it's obviously something they have knuckled down on this year and sorted that side. fille sans habille "We didn't engage them high enough, dropped into a low block too early and were second best. Second half I thought we engaged them a lot higher up the pitch. We were the better team in the second half. fille sans habille "They have been probably the best team throughout the year and are rightly sitting on top," St Helens prop Alex Walmsley said. "They are deservedly there and they've really turned a page. fille sans habille