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Catalans Dragons pair limp off as Sam Tomkins admission made

Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara

Catalans Dragons suffered two more injuries in their victory over Toulouse Olympique which saw Sam Tomkins earn yet more plaudits from head coach Steve McNamara.

Sam Tomkins called time on his incredible career at the end of 2023 but came out of retirement midway through the 2024 campaign before opting to go around again in 2025.

He will don the number one shirt for Les Dracs this year as a new-look spine emerges that also features NRL recruit Luke Keary and club captain Benjamin Garcia, who has been shifted from loose forward to hooker.

Catalans played their first and final game of the pre-season on Saturday as they beat French rivals Toulouse Olympique 42-10 after hitting the Championship side for 42 unanswered points.

Steve McNamara’s side will now head into the Challenge Cup where they face Halifax Panthers before then hosting Hull FC in Round One of Super League the week after. The Englishman has admitted that the cup team is “pretty set”, however, two injuries will cause a rethink.

Sam Tomkins hailed by Steve McNamara as Catalans Dragons suffer double injury blow

McNamara spoke on that upcoming Challenge Cup clash at the Shay, revealing the side is somewhat set but that injuries will force changes.

“We’re pretty set on most of our selections for the team for next week,” he explained.

“There are one or two positions (to look at) as obviously, we picked up two injuries today with Arthur Romano and Reimis Smith leaving the field with injuries.

“We’ll have to decide on some of our centres next week.”

It’s a big blow to lose both Romano and Smith, particularly when Matthieu Laguerre is currently out, however, McNamara was more focused on the young talents who did play.

He explained: “I thought the young players did extremely well, Clement Martin, Leo Darrelatour and Timeo Portier. It was great to see them out there and they showed some flair.

“It was disappointing that we couldn’t get Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, Matthieu Laguerre and Tanguy Zenon, who have got some injuries at this moment in time, out there.

“But I thought those young players in the backs did really well for us when they came on.”

There was also a comment on former two-time Man of Steel winner Sam Tomkins with McNamara hailing his performances, according to French-based reporter Steve Brady.

Brady quoted McNamara as having said: “Sam Tomkins is as fit and as strong and powerful as he’s been in his whole career,” something that will allay any concerns regarding the full-back’s knee which had initially contributed to his retirement.

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