Tommy Makinson gives honest Catalans Dragons’ verdict as Hull KR loss explained

Catalans Dragons winger Tommy Makinson has given an honest assessment of the club’s problems after their torrid loss to Hull KR.

In what was a Super League record loss for the club, Catalans fell to a 68-6 defeat against the Super League leaders last Friday with the Dragons imploding in one of the worst performances in recent memory.

Back in Perpignan, they’ll host Leigh Leopards on Saturday and Makinson has spoken to the media about the club’s “very difficult period”, how they’ll put it right and just how the Hull KR defeat got so out of hand.

“Performances are not what we want and as a collective, we need to put that right,” the former St Helens winger stated.

“Our job as players is to perform and we’ve not been doing that. That’s everybody, it’s not like a few players are playing well and some are not. As a collective, we’ve not come together as a team and done what we’re paid to do which is perform.”

‘I’ve not come to be in ninth place’ – Makinson slams Catalans Dragons performances

Heading into the 2025 campaign, Catalans were heavily tipped to perform well after what many viewed as a blip in 2024 when they missed the play-offs.

Adding Super League quality such as Makinson and Oliver Partington alongside the four NRL recruits of Luke Keary, Elliott Whitehead, Tevita Pangai Jr and Nick Cotric, led many to assume Catalans would be back among the title challengers.

Instead they languish in ninth and have seen head coach Steve McNamara sacked, with Makinson admitting that he had no intention to leave his beloved Saints to perform in such a manner.

He argued: “It’s got to change because the Dragons are a big club and we need to get this club where it deserves to be, which is not ninth place.

“I’ve not come here to lose matches and be in ninth place. We’ve got to start, including me, to improve and get better and that’s by hard work.

“I promise you, we have a good rugby team but we’re just not playing very well at the minute.”

Reflecting on that Hull KR loss, Makinson noted how it all just quickly added up as their competitive start dissolved into an embarrassing defeat.

“I’ve been in those moments where it doesn’t translate on the pitch, it’s a confidence thing,” he admitted, adding: “With Hull KR, we went for 10-15 minutes but then one, two, three tries, eleven men and discipline and it makes you fatigued.”

Interim coach Joel Tomkins also spoke and called on pride to be restored after it took a massive dent last week.

He explained: “We spoke about how embarrassing it was last week, the result and the performance. It’s not about having our heads up this week, it’s about salvaging some pride in the club, the jersey and the badge.”