Catalans Dragons boss Joel Tomkins is one of many coaches heading into the Super League under pressure to perform, but the head coach is confident his side can deliver results.
Tomkins landed his first senior coaching role at the Dragons part-way through last year, when Les Dracs opted to part company with Steve McNamara.
The former Wigan forward was handed the reigns on an interim basis to start with, before he was awarded a three-year contract to take permanent control of the side.
After an underwhelming 2025 campaign, Catalans missed the play-off places, but one thing that can be taken as a positive was the fact that they started to improve by the end of the season, and picked up wins over Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC to end the year.
The French side begin their Super League season later today, as they welcome Huddersfield Giants – another side who will be looking to make plenty of amendments this term.
Tomkins spoke to the French media ahead of that clash, and spoke about having that pressure on him, and how he believes a strong start to the year will stand them in good stead for 2026.
“The players are really excited,” he said as he previewed round one. “As a group of staff, we’re confident in what we’ve done in pre-season.
“I liked how we looked in the pre-season friendly [against Toulouse]. I liked what we did in the Challenge Cup [against Batley] and we’re looking forward to playing at home on Friday night with a big turnout, big crowd hopefully.”
The Catalans Dragons boss revealed there is little motivation that is needed for the club to perform this year, with Tomkins revealing that last year’s woes, and a club milestone, is enough to spur his side on.
He said: “The fact that our fans didn’t have a lot to get excited about last season, and being the first game of our 20th year anniversary, it’s a big occasion.
“We want to start in the right manner. We want to give the fans something to cheer about and gain some momentum going into this block of four games.”
On the pressure he is facing, Tomkins would be naïve in saying that there is no pressure currently on him, but he believes, with the squad he has assembled, that they will be well within a shot of making the finals once again.
He said: “I think whenever you’re a head coach, the pressure is always going to be on. I definitely feel that as well, but I trust these players to go out and deliver on the weekend.
“We’ve got a really good group, a lot of younger players this year, who have come in full of energy and enthusiasm.
“That’s contagious. That is spread through the team and the atmosphere in the changing rooms, around the club, on the training field, it’s full of energy.”
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