‘Thrown my hat in the ring’ – Joel Tomkins confirms Catalan Dragons’ ambitions but bemoans ruck speed in Hull KR loss

Catalans Dragons interim head coach Joel Tomkins has highlighted ruck speed issues in his side’s loss to Hull KR, whilst also confirming his intent at taking the job on beyond 2025.

Tomkins was appointed as the interim head coach in the aftermath of Steve McNamara’s sacking and has so far led the French club to just one win in eight games.

Play-off ambitions are off the table now but Tomkins has spoken on how the club will approach the final eight games of the year, as well as his own ambitions to become head coach.

After the 34-6 loss to Hull KR, Tomkins spoke on Sky Sports, explaining: “We’ve got to salvage what we can from the season.

“It’s been a disappointing season for all sorts of reasons but we’ve got to salvage what we can from these next eight games, and there will be one eye on the players who are here next season and trying to gain some experience for those boys.”

Joel Tomkins confirms Catalans Dragons’ head coach ambitions

He was also asked about what comes next and the fact he was reported to be keen on taking the job as Catalans Dragons head coach permanently, something he would confirm.

Tomkins said: “When Steve left the club, Bernard asked me if I’d be involved in the recruitment side of things from a coach’s perspective and although the results haven’t gone our way and it’s been a difficult job up to this point, there’s large elements of the job that I’m really enjoying.

“It’s kind of confirmed to me that I want to be a head coach and I’ve thrown my hat in the ring.

“I know the club are looking at quite a few options there and whatever the club decides, I’ll go with.”

As for the six-try defeat to Hull KR, he hailed the ‘effort and attitude’ of his players and explained that the result was “probably just a fair reflection of where we’re at as a team and where they’re at”.

“Our young boys on the edges just couldn’t really handle their line speed,” he noted, before bemoaning the ruck speed.

“They were allowed to slow the ruck down today with the way the game was refereed, and has been refereed all season.

“They take advantage of it, they have a slow ruck and then their line speed today was outstanding.

“On the other side of the ball, we couldn’t slow them down. They’ve got some good backfield players who gain ruck speed for them and we just couldn’t handle them.”

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— Serious About Rugby League (@SeriousAboutRL) July 19, 2025