Catalan Dragons star and former Wigan Warriors man Sam Tomkins has tipped current full-back Arthur Mourgue to emulate the career and follow in the footsteps of another French legend.
Mourgue is still only 23 and is heading into his sixth season of Super League having debuted in 2018 and the youngster has been given high praise from the England captain, and former England boss and current Dragons boss Steve McNamara.
Tomkins has described the youngster as “electric” before likening his confidence to that of Cooper Cronk and Mourgue displayed plenty of confidence and ability as he helped guide the French side at the recent World Cup.
Mourgue was brilliant in Les Bleus victory against newcomers Greece where he scored a try and kicked seven goals in a 34-12 victory, whilst he also crossed over when France gave hosts England a first-half scare in a game that finished 42-18 to England.
For a long time the French national team was led by former Dragon Thomas Bosc and Tomkins has likened Mourgue to the brilliant Bosc in a video interview shared from the official twitter page of the Betfred Super League.
“Thomas Bosc has been and was consistent for this club for ten years plus. I’m the same as everybody else, I want Arthur Mourgue to be the next Thomas Bosc and I think he’s got everything he needs to do that,” Tomkins exclaimed.
“He’s got everything you need to play, he’s fast, he’s smart, he’s got a lot to learn and I think he’s got the perfect mentor in Thomas Bosc. He’s just a representation of all the young French kids that we’ve got that can do the job.”
Mourgue will look to build on his 2022 season in which he only played 14 times having been injured early in the season. He was still able to bounce back and be part of the team that played in a heated affair against Leeds Rhinos in the playoffs.
Catalans kick off their campaign facing off against Wakefield in their opener before welcoming new boys Leigh Leopards to Perpignan in week two.
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