The RFL

Justin Murphy's reward for his four-try feat in Catalans Dragons' 46-8 victory over Warrington Wolves is likely to be a new contract for 2009.

The 30-year-old Australian is out of contract at the end of the season but will be offered a new 12-month deal once he succeeds in his application to become a French citizen, which would remove him from the club's overseas quota.

The former New Zealand Warrior joined the Perpignan club before they entered engage Super League four years ago and, having qualified on residency grounds, made his debut for France last season.

He is in John Monie's initial World Cup squad and has no immediate plans to return to Australia.

"My wife's French so she'd like me to stay," he said. "I'm happy here and this is my home. Hopefully, I'll get my citizenship through by the end of the year."

Recalled to the wing in place of Cyril Stacul, Murphy justified his selection with his third engage Super League hat-trick and made it four for the first time in his senior career by completing the rout of the patched-up and outclassed Warrington outfit.

The Dragons went into their first-ever play-off tie in something of a slump, having finished the regular season with just one win from their last six matches, but they were back to their scintillating best in front of an ecstatic 8,442 crowd at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

With skilful Australians Adam Mogg and Casey McGuire pulling the strings, Catalans had too much class for the visitors and had the game sewn up by half-time, when they led 22-2.

"Personally I may have gone in under-prepared for the last couple of games, looking forward to the semis, and that may have been the case with the other guys," said full-back Clint Greenshields.

"But I think everyone turned up tonight with their heads switched on and that's the way it's got to be in the finals. I think everyone left the Super League regular competition behind. It's the start of a new competition.

"It was a good win and we're looking forward to taking this form into next week."

Catalans' reward is another home tie next Saturday against Wigan Warriors, who were 30-14 winners over Bradford Bulls in the first elimination play-off on Friday, and that will put Greenshields up against his former St George Illawarra team-mate Trent Barrett, the Warriors' acting captain.

"We know it will be tough," added Greenshields. "Wigan have got some great players and some big-game players.

"Trent Barrett has played on the biggest stage ever. They're going to be hard to beat. We will have to be on our game."

• back