After returning to Super League, Catalans Dragons’ forward Elliott Whitehead is clear on his objectives for the season.
The former England international has returned to the South of France nine years after he first left, making way back then as he switched to the NRL.
Whitehead had great individual success in the NRL but failed to lift silverware and that’s something he wants to correct now that he’s back in Super League.
Speaking to the club media, the 35-year-old stated: “I’m really excited to be back here. We’ve established a great team and have been training hard so I’m looking forward to getting back into the season and hopefully winning Super League.
“That’s my objective, that’s why I came back. Since I’ve left, especially over the last couple of years, the club have really improved. They’ve made two out of three of the last Grand Finals and hopefully, we can make it three out of four and get the win this year.”
Les Dracs will be hoping for a major bounce-back year after failing to make the play-offs in 2024, a source of great disappointment for the club who have established themselves among the Super League elite during Whitehead’s time Down Under.
Whitehead intent on earning a Super League ring
Credit: Greig Cowie/Bpi/Shutterstock
In the seasons since the second-rower made his NRL switch, Catalans have finished outside the top six on just four occasions with 2019 being the last instance before their sub-par 2024.
Whitehead, who came through with Bradford, is yet to get his hands on any silverware at club level, something he is intent on changing in 2025.
Detailing how his return to Perpignan came about, he explained: “I spoke to him (Steve McNamara) and Bernard (Guasch) a few years ago at the World Cup and expressed my interest in coming back once my career has finished in Canberra. We got the deal done and I’m glad I’m back here now.”
After over 200 games in the NRL, Whitehead still feels there’s more to come, noting: “I feel that I’ve still got something to give. I feel that last year, I played pretty well and to have the opportunity to come back here and hopefully finish with a Super League ring is really special.
“For me, it’s to win. I’ve come here to finish on a high and I feel that this club are one of the clubs that can do that this year. There’s going to be a lot of hard games and we’ll have to work hard but I feel that we’re on the right journey so far.”
Having only signed on a one-year deal, he’s refused to comment on whether he’ll stay for longer with his focus intent on 2025.
“I don’t want to say that it is my last season, we’ll see how my body pulls off and how I play this year,” Whitehead explained.
“If there is an opportunity for another year then maybe but that’s a long way away. I want to concentrate on playing good rugby for the team.”
He had recently explained on James Graham’s Bye Round podcast that he wants an immediate NRL return after his one-year deal, albeit not in a playing capacity.
Whitehead had said: “I want to come back to Canberra once the year’s finished at Catalans and do some coaching here (Canberra) and hopefully progress in that aspect.
“I reckon I’ll be done, depends on what body is. They’ve made some great signings for next year and you know looking forward to joining up with all of them.”
