Catalans Dragons head coach candidate emerges as ex-NRL man linked

Former St George Illawarra Dragons head coach Paul McGregor has been linked with a switch to Catalans Dragons.

The French club are on the lookout for a new head coach after parting ways with Steve McNamara last month after almost eight years in charge. McNamara won the Challenge Cup and led the Dragons to two Super League Grand Finals during his time at the club.

However, he was dismissed after a difficult start to the Super League season, with a 40-0 loss at St Helens ultimately bringing about the end of his tenure. Joel Tomkins has been in charge on an interim basis ever since with the Dragons losing all four games under the former Wigan Warriors man.

Since McNamara’s exit, the club have scored 18 points, but conceded a whopping 176, with their 68-6 loss at Hull KR being the heaviest defeat of the season by some distance.

Their 26-12 loss to Leigh Leopards last time out demonstrated some progress under Tomkins but the Dragons are on the lookout for a permanent head coach solution heading into the 2026 campaign.

Ex-NRL man linked to Catalans Dragons

According to the Daily Telegraph Down Under, that man could well be McGregor, who most recently worked on the coaching staff at Parramatta Eels. McGregor spent one season with the Eels with his last spell as a head coach coming to an end in 2020 as he departed St George.

The 57-year-old spent six years in charge of the Dragons, taking over in 2014 from former Warrington Wolves boss Steve Price and he managed to lead the club to two appearances in the NRL play-offs.

During his time at the club he oversaw 151 games and won 70 of them with a win percentage of 46 per cent. He was dismissed halfway through the 2020 season with the Dragons struggling for form through the Covid campaign.

He has also spent time coaching within the New South Wales Blues set up. According to the report, McGregor was keen on the Eels job for this season but was overlooked in favour of Jason Ryles.