Panthers hoping to ‘put on show’ for Fax fans travelling to France

That is the hope of head coach Kyle Eastmond, although most Fax supporters will likely admit most Championship games in 2025 have been show-stopping.

Aside from a solitary, narrow defeat at home to rivals Bradford Bulls on Good Friday, the Panthers have been in exemplary form with seven victories from their opening eight league games - including bouncing back from that loss with a 40-12 thrashing of London Broncas at The Shay last Sunday.

They have scored a whopping 252 points in the process - that’s 56 points more than Oldham’s 196, the second highest scorers.

Asked what his expectations were going into the intriguing contest at third-placed Toulouse, Eastmond told Panthers TV:

“I’ve not done it before! My expectation is that we’re going to play against another team but it’s in France, that’s it. I genuinely don’t have any expectations around what it is.

“All I know is we will prepare the best we can and we have got the right group of people to do that. We have got the players who will buy into it and then we will try and execute that.

“The Bradford week was probably a good week to learn from in terms of building things up that aren’t necessary. By the time you realise it’s not as big as you think it’s too late and you’re beaten.

“That’s something that won’t be happening this week going to Toulouse. We’re just playing a game against another team and we’ll be ready.”

On the travelling fans who will be heading to the south of France, Eastmond added:

“Travelling that far to come and spend their money and watch your team is unbelievable. We can’t wait to see them over there and I hope we put on a great show for them.

“We’ll be ready and we’ll be going there to win.”

On the team bouncing back from the Bulls defeat, he said:

“It’s the most important thing, to win games, and we did that. Every team in the Championship is a good side.

“To lose a game and respond the way they did and be clinical with the game plan was outstanding. These lads are brilliant.”