Catalan Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous admitted the disappointment over his side’s first-round exit from the Super League play-offs was compounded by the precipitated retirement of Steve Menzies.
A 14-4 defeat to Hull FC in Friday night’s elimination play-off ended the Dragons’ season and signalled the end of the road for popular Australian second-rower Menzies, who hung up his boots and trademark headgear after 21 years as a professional.
“It’s an emotional dressing room,” Frayssinous said. “It’s disappointing that we say goodbye in that way.
“He has been one of the best overseas players we’ve had at the Dragons, if not the best, and we wanted to give him at least one more week.”
Menzies had a late try disallowed to compound his misery as the Dragons sorely missed the creativity and kicking game of former Newcastle Knights halfback Scott Dureau, who pulled out with a quad muscle injury.
Hull coach Peter Gentle paid tribute to Menzies, who is to return to his NRL club Manly Sea Eagles to take on an ambassadorial role.
“He’s held in high regard throughout the world,” Gentle said. “I’ve nothing but admiration for him.
“He showed tonight he can still play at this level. He could play for another couple of years.”
Gentle claimed his side put the lessons from their recent Challenge Cup final defeat to good use as they stayed alive in the play-offs.
The Black and Whites failed miserably to cope with a greasy ball at Wembley, where they lost 16-0 to Wigan, but adapted to the wet conditions at the KC Stadium by defending superbly.
Hull fullback Jamie Shaul provided the highlight with an 80m opportunist try, collecting Leon Pryce’s towering kick on his own 20m line and sprinting through a fragmented defence for his sixth touchdown in just seven Super League appearances.