CALLUM WALKER reflects on a year when little went well for Catalans.
The hope
Catalans had won their last three games of the 2025 Super League season under Joel Tomkins to instil a glimmer of hope around the Stade Gilbert Brutus that 2026 would be different.
The Dragons had brought in 13 new signings ahead of the last campaign, including NRL stars Charlie Staines, Solomona Faataape, Toby Sexton, Zac Lipowicz and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui with the view that a fresh new Catalans side would be ready to mount a play-off charge in 2026.
As always, owner Bernard Guasch had put his money where his mouth was and it was time to replicate that on the field.
The reality
That glimmer of hope almost turned into a ray of sunshine in the opening seven games of 2026, with the Dragons winning five of those games.
However, after the 26-20 win over Hull KR in Round 5, head coach Tomkins left his position to return home as his assistant Ryan Sheridan stepped in on an interim basis.
In his seven fixtures in charge, Sheridan could only guide the Dragons to two wins before outgoing Hull FC coach John Cartwright was brought in.
But Cartwright was also unable to inspire much confidence, with the Dragons winning just two of their last twelve fixtures of the season.
New signings Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Ipswich Jets) and Zac Lipowicz (Wakefield Trinity) also left during their first campaign with the French club.
Best players
Charlie Staines was superb in his first season in Super League, topping the metre count across the whole of Super League, whilst Solomona Faataape impressed enough to be signed by St Helens.
Toby Sexton also looked the part at times with a neat running and kicking game, whilst late-season recruit Edenn Rogers-Smith, who will play for Leeds in 2027, fitted in seamlessly.
There was little to shout about in the pack, however, although Zac Lipowicz did make 23 appearances before leaving for Wakefield.
In quotes
“I have learned a great deal, both personally and professionally, and I am grateful for the connections and experiences gained along the way. I’m leaving the club a better coach than when I arrived. However, living away from my family for such a long time has been difficult. After recently spending some time at home for personal reasons, I have made the decision to end my contract with the club.” – Joel Tomkins’ words after leaving Catalans as head coach in April.
“I am really looking forward to the rest of the season with Catalans. It came totally out of the blue, which makes it all the more exciting. I can’t thank Bernard Guasch (owner) enough for this opportunity.” – John Cartwright after signing a deal with the Dragons in May until the end of the 2026 season. Cartwright would later sign a two-year contract extension.
“I’ve said for the last few weeks that there’s a big gap between the top six and the rest of us. The rest of us are fighting and on your day you’ll win your games. That’s not where we want to be as a club. It’s just playing for a bit of personal pride now; that’s the main thing. The club is going through a period where players are coming and going and players are off contract and don’t have anywhere to go. It’s a tough period for players who aren’t fighting for the six.” – John Cartwright pulled no punches following a dismal 42-20 loss to bottom side Huddersfield Giants in August.
In numbers
4,490 – the staggering number of metres Charlie Staines made throughout the Super League season. Staines made 329 more metres than Hull KR’s Tom Davies in second place.
Joel Tomkins led Catalans in seven games and John Cartwright 16. But they won five games apiece with Tomkins at 71 percent success and Cartwright at 31 percent.
Catalans’ points difference of -263 was the third worst in Super League, despite the French club finishing ninth.
Highlights
A 22-16 win over Leigh in Round Four and then a 26-20 triumph over Hull KR in Round Five lifted the Dragons into seventh on the Super League ladder.
Taking a game to Paris’ Stade Jean-Bouin to face Wigan Warriors demonstrated the club’s initiative to try and expand Rugby League as over 12,500 fans attended the game.
An 18-16 victory over French rivals Toulouse Olympique in Round 20 restored bragging rights for the Dragons after the catastrophic hammering by the same side three weeks before.
Lowlights
With reference to the bragging rights above, Toulouse thrashed Catalans 60-18 in Round 17, which summed up the Dragons’ dismal year.
They finished outside the play-offs for the third consecutive season and were thrashed 58-10 by Wakefield, 50-12 by Wigan and 60-18 by Toulouse. Joel Tomkins’ exit barely months into the new campaign certainly shook the Dragons up, whilst things went from bad to worse for owner Bernard Guasch.
Guasch was £3,000, with £1,500 suspended until the end of next season, following his conduct towards match officials after the 34-28 Super League win against Castleford Tigers in Perpignan on June 13.
A statement said he was investigated under operational rules covering adherence to the Respect policy, behaviour standards and conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game.
Looking ahead
Catalans surely can’t be as bad in 2027 as they were in 2026. Can they?
With John Cartwright’s future at the Stade Gilbert Brutus confirmed for the next two seasons, the Dragons can now plan for a more settled pre-season and 2027.
Bringing in established NRL stars Jesse Arthars, Tyson Gamble and Luciano Leilua should go some way to addressing the concerns of 2026, but they have also lost ten players, meaning another off-season of upheaval.
The Dragons have lost Edenn Rogers-Smith and Nick Cotric to Leeds, Solomona Faataape to St Helens and Tommy Makinson and Ben Garcia to retirement.
There is still recruitment to be done if they are to avoid a repeat of last season, but Cartwright might finally bring the club a degree of stability.
