SAINTS' assistant coach Jamahl Lolesi explained the late withdrawal of Jonny Lomax and the knee injury sustained by Theo Fages had a disruptive impact in Perpignan.

Lolesi was speaking after watching Saints give up an early lead to fall behind and eventually lose 33-16.

He said: "We're doing a bit tough at the moment.

"We're missing a few key players and the players are down on confidence a little.

"We're missing our half-back and he is a big loss for us so we're having to reshuffle our team."

Scrum half Fages was forced off at half-time due to a knee injury.

"Losing Theo at half-time didn't help us - that is why Keiron Cunningham isn't here at the moment, he's with Theo.

"We also lost Jonny Lomax before the game as he suffered a tight adductor and that really hurt our attack. It's just not happening for us at the moment," Lolesi said.

"Half-back is obviously a key position, our full-back pulled out in the warm-up and then we lost our replacement half-back at half time.

"We were trying hard up to the 40 minute mark and we were in the game just after half-time, but as the game wore on Catalans did well with the ball and they managed to get a few scores."