2024 Season Preview: Catalans Dragons

2023 saw another strong and consistent campaign from the Dragons. Despite this, it unfortunately wasn't enough to result in any silverware for Steve McNamara's men - as they narrowly missed out on a maiden Grand Final victory and the League Leaders' Shield on points difference.

Despite falling short at Old Trafford, Catalans will have the confidence and momentum heading into the upcoming campaign, with the determination that 2024 will finally be the year of the Dragons.

The Dragons have recruited well ahead of the new season, with the likes of former Huddersfield Giants playmaker Theo Fages, Hull FC's Chris Satae, and Melbourne Storm duo Tariq Sims and Jayden Nikorima. However they will be without their former star man Sam Tomkins this time around - the mercurial full-back made his final appearance for the Dragons during their 10-2 defeat at Old Trafford, having called time on his illustrative career.

Steve McNamara's side have established themselves as one of the top sides in Super League over recent years, but will they have anything to show for this come the end of the 2024 season?

Ins & outs

Ins

Chris Satae (Hull FC), Theo Fages (Huddersfield Giants), Tariq Sims (Melbourne Storm), Jayden Nikorima (Melbourne Storm), Bayley Sironen (New Zealand Warriors), Jordan Abdull (season-long loan from Hull KR).

New faces ?

Which @DragonsOfficiel signing will have the biggest impact in 2024? ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/ESXF6tJaRP
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) December 12, 2023

Outs

Sam Tomkins (retirement), Adam Keighran, Tiaki Chan (both Wigan), Mickael Goudemand (Leeds Rhinos), Tyrone May (Hull KR), Mitchell Pearce (retirement), Matt Whitley (St Helens).

Ones to watch

2024 stars

Mitchell Pearce's retirement and Tyrone May's exit to Hull KR have paved the way for the Dragons' lively new signing Theo Fages. He joins them from Huddersfield Giants, although he is arguably best known for his successful stint at St Helens between 2016-2021, where he was part of a side that won three Grand Finals and a Challenge Cup trophy. Fages played a significant role in this success, producing a variety of creative masterclasses - highlighting the huge threat he poses to teams that come face to face with him in 2024. 

Acrobatic and the now famed Tom Johnstone seriously excelled as a Catalans Dragon in 2023, as a catalogue of stunning tries made him the joint top-try scorer alongside Wigan's Abbas Miski - with 27 tries from the same number of rounds. Remaining injury free, Johnstone arguably experienced the best season of his career to date, becoming Super League's second top metre maker, earning himself a place in the 2023 Dream Team and a Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award nomination, as well as pulling on a shirt for his country in last year's England v Tonga Test Series. 

Popular amongst many, Johnstone will be looking to reiterate his individual success as well as aim for collective team success this time around.

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? @TomJohnstone01 pic.twitter.com/171FlSLdcv
— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) January 3, 2024

Next generation

With Sam Tomkins retiring at the end of 2023, there could be more opportunities for energetic full-back Tanguy Zenon at the Dragons in 2024. The young prospect spent some time on loan at Hull KR last season and played the full-back position internationally for France during their mid-season defeat against England, so has been gathering all the necessary experience as he looks to break into Steve McNamara's first team this year.

Defining dates

Consistency is key for the Catalans Dragons in 2024 if they are to go one step further and achieve their long-awaited Grand Final success. They will be hoping to repeat the winning streak of five matches that they enjoyed in the opening five rounds of 2023, and this will begin with a home tie against Warrington Wolves at the Stade Gilbert Brutus - an opportunity to hit the ground running on home soil.

The month of May could prove tricky for the Dragons, however, as they face three of last year's top six rivals - this includes a Grand Final rematch against Wigan Warriors, another home fixture against Warrington Wolves, followed by a tough trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium, where they face St Helens. Could this be the litmus test which determines the rest of the Catalans' season?

Squad list

1. Arthur Mourgue, 2. Tom Davies, 3. Arthur Romano, 4. Matthieu Laguerre, 5. Fouad Yaha, 6. Jayden Nikorama, 7. Theo Fages, 8. Mike McMeeken, 9. Micky McIlorum, 10. Julian Bousquet, 11. Tariq Sims, 12. Paul Seguier, 13. Benjamin Garcia, 14. Alrix Da Costa, 15. Bayley Sironen, 16. Romain Navarrete, 17. Cesar Rouge, 18. Ugo Tison, 19. Tanguy Zenon, 20. Chris Satae, 21. Matt Ikuvalu, 22. Siua Taukeiaho, 23. Jordan Dezaria, 24. Tom Johnstone, 25. Loan Castano, 26. Manu Ma'u, 27. Jordan Abdull.