2023 Season Review: Catalans Dragons

8 Nov 2023

A campaign of consistency and clinical performances saw Catalans Dragons battle for top spot and edge agonisingly close to a maiden Betfred Super League Grand Final victory.

Steve McNamara's men were top of the pile for over three months of the year in total, but lost their grip with consecutive defeats to Wigan and Hull KR as the season reached its climax. Still, three closing wins clinched a deserved home Semi-Final place and provided an accurate reflection of another strong campaign from the Dragons.

It began with five straight victories including wins over eventual top six rivals Wigan and Leigh, before four defeats from five had Catalans in their lowest position of fourth. But a home win over St Helens kick-started their season again, beginning a run of seven straight Super League victories.

Defence to attack for @DragonsOfficiel ?

It's what @TomJohnstone01 does ?#SLStHCat #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/Z5sIarbzy2
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 13, 2023

The only negative of that spell - and arguably the biggest disappointment of the year - came with a home Betfred Challenge Cup defeat to 12-man Warrington, ending their hopes of a Wembley return.

"These are high-stakes games with quality teams, and the consequences if you are not fully focused is you are out of the competition and that hurts," McNamara said after the game.

"Fundamental errors in the last moments of the game cost us."

That took away one of the possible three pieces of silverware on offer, but the Dragons refocused on the second in the League Leaders' Shield and were top from the start of June until the end of August, beating champions St Helens again, this time away, in the process.

"They're the sort of games you want to be involved in," McNamara said after the 14-12 Totally Wicked Stadium win.

"Those are the ones you want to win. If you're going to be in it at the end of the year, those are the sorts of games you must win and hopefully that will stand us in good stead for September."

The Dragons looked to be flying towards lifting the LLS, until their run was derailed in emphatic style when Wigan won 34-0 at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium in Round 23.

"We got beat in every department by Wigan," McNamara mused.

"I have to admit I didn't see that coming."

Defeat at Hull KR six days later left Catalans needing results to go their way elsewhere to reclaim top spot, and they had to settle for second. But they had still proved themselves to be among the competition's elite again, with a settled side making them difficult to beat.

They showed their metal during a tense and gritty Play-Off Semi-Final against St Helens with Sam Tomkins' last gasp try sending the Dragons to Old Trafford. But it proved to be one step too far as they again fell short at the Theatre of Dreams.

SAM TOMKINS ? WOW ?@DragonsOfficiel are heading to the #GrandFinal ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/HG9WiIDIUh
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 6, 2023

McNamara - nominated for the competition's Coach of the Year award - had a host of star performers in his side. New signing from Wakefield Tom Johnstone earned a place in the Betfred Super League Dream Team after finishing as the competition's joint top try scorer during the regular season with 27, as well as making more metres than any other back.

Elsewhere in the three-quarter line another new recruit Adam Keighran and Tom Davies also reached double figures, illustrating how potent the Dragons were out wide. That was also down to a solid pack and key creative figures, even though the likes of Mitchell Pearce, Sam Tomkins and Tyrone May all missed their fair share of matches through injury.

Micky McIlorum was again a source of constant industry at hooker, while Mike McMeeken, Julian Bousquet and Romain Navarrete led from the front. Holding everything together yet again was skipper Benjamin Garcia, whose levels of consistency in both attack and defence are matched by few players in the entire competition.

Tomkins announced in March that he would retire at the end of the 2023 campaign to take up an off field role at the Dragons, bringing down the curtain on one of Super League's most decorated careers.

"He will of course and rightly so be long remembered for his on-field contributions, his quality, leadership and desire to compete in every situation," McNamara said.

"But for me and having the chance to work personally with him as both the England and Catalans Dragons coach his highest quality is his ability to treat everybody within the organisations with the utmost respect and on equal terms. From the cleaner to the president, the experienced overseas players to the youngest domestic players Sam has time for and is willing to help everybody."

Setting standards & unprecedented impact ?

Ahead of @samtomkins1 final game in Saturday's #GrandFinal, we asked his @DragonsOfficiel teammates & coaches about what makes him so special ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/XENkMDaRdl
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 11, 2023

Key man

Catalans had key figures right across their team - from Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel finalist Tom Johnstone to fellow new recruit Adam Keighran and veteran hooker Micky McIlorum. But the Dragons always looked at their most dangerous when fullback Sam Tomkins was in the side in what has been his last season in Betfred Super League. Tomkins showed that none of the on-field desire that has characterised his career was lacking, along with the in-game intelligence that has served Catalans so well.

Rising star

Tiaki Chan provided a spark from the Dragons bench whenever he was called upon. Chan is a bundle of energy on the field and punches well above his weight in the middle third, never looking out of place amongst Catalans' star-studded squad. He will be hoping to cement a regular place in Wigan's squad next season as he makes the move over to the 2023 Champions.

Season highlight

The Dragons' accomplished 46-22 win over Wigan at Magic Weekend sent Steve McNamara's side to the top of the table and announced them as genuine contenders. Winger Tom Johnstone continued his outstanding start to the season with a sparkling hat-trick with Matt Whitley also touching down twice at St James' Park. It came amid a run of nine wins from 10 before the same opponents ended it in late August.