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2026 Season Review: Catalans Dragons

15 mins

Great expectations. John Cartwright is hoping to return Dragons to past glories.

Three wins from their opening five Betfred Super League matches looked like a solid platform for Catalans’ young head coach Joel Tomkins to build on in Perpignan.

The Dragons had beaten champions Hull KR in France having triumphed at Leigh the round before in impressive style.

But Tomkins then stepped down from his position due to personal reasons, with Ryan Sheridan taking charge alongside assistants Mitchell Pearce and Micky McIlorum.

They oversaw home wins against Warrington and Toulouse to keep Catalans on the fringes of the top six, but three straight heavy defeats led the club to turn to the experienced John Cartwright, not long after his exit from Hull FC.

Three wins from his opening four games suggested the Dragons could live up to their pre-season billing as a potential Play-Offs side, but just one win from the next nine ended those hopes and included a shock 60-point thrashing to domestic rivals Toulouse.

A late season win at Castleford provided some respite, but thoughts have very much turned towards improving fortunes moving forwards.

Cartwright has been charged with heading up a return to the top end of the table having penned a two-year contract in August.

“It’s a tough job with a lot of pressure but I’m really looking forward to taking on the challenge,” Cartwright said.

“This club has great potential. For the game of Rugby League in general, it’s essential that we have a very strong Catalans Dragons team.”

In the side’s inconsistent 2026 campaign, Toby Sexton and Lewis Dodd were a near constant half-back partnership that guided the side around the field and offered threat with ball in hand.

Solomona Faataape (St Helens) and Nick Cotric (Leeds) will both head for new clubs after strong seasons in the three-quarters, with Charlie Staines impressing at full-back.

In the pack, Josh Allen, Zac Lipowicz and Julian Bousquet were among the Dragons’ best, while elsewhere French youngsters Leo Darrélatour and Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet continued their development.

Catalans also paid tribute to two Super League legends who hung their boots up at the end of the season - winger Tommy Makinson, a serial winner at St Helens, and Catalans stalwart Benjamin Garcia both called time on their playing days after outstanding careers.

Their exits are part of another turnover of players at the club, who have again looked to the NRL for inspiration by signing Jesse Arthars, Tyson Gamble and Luciano Leilua, as well as Hull FC hooker Amir Bourouh.

Alongside Cartwright they will be tasked with steering Catalans back up the Super League table in 2027.

TOP TEAM-MATE

In his last season before a richly deserved retirement, club legend Benjamin Garcia yet again led his side from the front whenever he was on the field.

YOUNG GUN

Leo Darrélatour, the fleet-footed winger, has looked a real talent in scoring at almost a try a game, and his recent contract extension was a boost for the club.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

The Dragons still looked like potential Play-Offs contenders when they brushed Warrington aside 38-22 in April, Tommy Makinson and Lewis Dodd both scoring braces.