Catalans Dragons have learned from their 2024 mistakes with head coach Steve McNamara admitting that the club needed some “freshness” after their disastrous 2024 Super League season..
Having made the Grand Final in both 2021 and 2023, Catalans failed to make it into the top six last year as they suffered a major Old Trafford hangover.
They had started to establish themselves among the elite teams in Super League but struggled miserably last year with one of the low points being when they became the only side other than Hull FC to lose to London Broncos.
Already, there have been warning signs for 2025 with Catalans limping into Round Four of the Challenge Cup this past weekend as they only beat Halifax Panthers 14-0.
Head coach Steve McNamara spoke after that game with disdain but he’s now addressed the media ahead of their opening Super League match and looked at the positives of the fixture.
Speaking on the club’s YouTube channel, he said: “For me, the match last Saturday against Halifax was very good preparation for the team because it was a difficult match.”
Catalans Dragons boss admits mistakes of 2024 Super League season
He also outlined how and why they have signed so many players and hired new staff, labelling them as a new team for 2025.
Explaining why, he admitted: “We needed some freshness. We played in two Grand Finals in three years. We made some mistakes in preparation for 2024.
“Those mistakes were clear early on and we made sure it wouldn’t be the same in 2025.”
As for Friday night, star signing Luke Keary could debut and will likely be needed given the injuries to Sam Tomkins and Theo Fages with confirmation earlier in the week that Fages will miss a month with fractured ribs whilst McNamara gave a Tomkins update.
On his team, he said: “Luke Keary and Arthur Romano trained all week. Jordan Dezaria and Matthieu Laguerre are very close.
“Sam Tomkins has had a scan but Sam will not play this week.”
Catalans Dragons v Hull FC squad news
With Keary set to debut, he also faced the media and spoke on the challenge of Super League with the Australian leaving the NRL after 12 years to test himself in Perpignan.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to it. the NRL was a really good challenge but I’m looking forward to it over here. It’s been really challenging and rewarding.”
With his heaps of NRL experience, he knows plenty about Hull FC head coach John Cartwright and that’s seen him preview a very tough clash.
Keary said: “He’s a top top coach and will bring a hard edge to them. They’ve bought really well so we’re expecting a physical game on Friday.”
