Walters delights in play-off win

The result was in doubt until Thomas Bosc settled French nerves with a 77th-minute drop-goal and a last-minute penalty to leave Walters beaming with pride.

"The players have gone up a gear with their performances after being pretty heavily criticised," said Walters, whose side booked their play-off berth with a stirring win at St Helens.

"We're now starting to show what we can do but I think there is more improvement yet to come."

The Dragons struck in the 30th minute through Vincent Duport and Olivier Elima and Dimitri Pelo added quickfire scores before the break to help establish a 16-2 lead. Pelo claimed his second seven minutes after the restart and with influential scrum-half Bosc kicking three goals, Walters' men were well in control.

Yet Wakefield responded impressively and hit back with tries from Luke George (two) and Ryan Atkins to cut the gap to six points with seven minutes remaining to ensure a tense finish, before Bosc's successful kicks.

Wakefield coach John Kear admitted his side paid a heavy price for their woeful first-half showing.

Yet he was also quick to look at the wider picture and paid tribute to his players for their efforts throughout a turbulent campaign which has seen the club hit a number of tragedies, not least the death of players Adam Watene and Leon Walker.

"I thought their big Australian players like Clint Greenshields and Thomas Bosc were big for them," said Kear.

"The French workhorses around those players were very good. They were better than us. They came here, slowed the ruck down and never allowed us to get on the front foot."