Though the 2023 Super League season has yet to begin, preparations for beyond that will have already begun especially as most sides have already done all their business for the 2023 barring the likes of Catalans Dragons, Leigh Leopards and potentially Salford Red Devils.
As in the NRL, considerations will be made to how squads for the 2024 season will look especially after they set the precedent down under of making signings well in advance because of the 1st November rule.
All sides have players off contract at the end of 2023 and they will definitely want to secure some of these players down moving forward, and we will likely start to see this happen sooner rather than later especially as current clubs are allowed to underline what they intend for their current players coming off contract and essentially have first dibs.
So, considering this, which off contract player should Catalans Dragons look to tie down for 2024 and beyond?
There is a pretty clear option for the Dragons and that is two-time Man of Steel Sam Tomkins.
Though at the end of his career, Tomkins is still one of the best players in Super League having won the Man of Steel as recently as 2021 and captaining England in the Rugby League World Cup.
So, still very much a quality player, he is also essential to the culture and leadership at the club as they go on to endure a rebuild in the coming years after they achieved success in 2021 only to slip down the league somewhat last year.
