John Cartwright has insisted that his Catalans Dragons players must show him a response after last week’s 58-10 loss to Wakefield Trinity, with the new head coach challenging them to being able to walk off the field against York Knights this evening and be able to ‘look in the mirror and say you gave your best’.
That should be the bare minimum at the Super League level but Catalans folded massively in the second-half against Wakefield as they conceded 48 points and were dominated in the middle of the park.
Appointed earlier this week, John Cartwright has had just a handful of days with the squad, to the point where he’s still trying to learn names, and that’s why he’s asked for an effort-first performance tonight.
Speaking in his first presser, the Australian said: “You want to see how you respond to it. There’s not a lot you can do in a week to fix all the wrongs but what we need to see is a response physically and to be able to walk off the field and look in the mirror and say you gave it your best.”
He also admitted that even in the coming weeks and months, much of how Catalans play will be dictated by what they did in pre-season with his own influence to be minor.
“For me, it’s getting to know players, getting to know the staff roles, getting to know the style of football that we’ve been practicing because what has been embedded in the pre-season won’t change, so I have to get to know that style of football.
“I’ll then slowly have my sort of input but now I’m still getting to know the names of players.”
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Consistency the key at Catalans claims John Cartwright
John Cartwright is well aware that he has plenty of talent at his disposal though, it’s just about unlocking it and then developing consistency.
He said: “They’ve won some really tough games, to beat Warrington and to beat Hull KR are massive achievements but to be part of that top four, you’ve got to be consistent and win the games you’re expected to win.
“It shows me that there is talent there and there is ability to be able to win against the better sides in the competition, so it’s my job to find some consistency.”
As for the prestige of landing the role as Catalans head coach, Cartwright expressed gratitude at the opportunity and spoke on the importance of the club to help develop the game outside the heartlands.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity,” he declared, adding: “I’ve followed Super League for a long time and I was really excited to get an opportunity at Hull (FC). Things didn’t quite pan out there the way that I would have liked and then the opportunity to keep coaching in Super League came along through Bernard and the Catalans Dragons.
“(Catalans are) potentially a really important piece of the puzzle for rugby league to be successful in the south of France and our game in general.
“I think it’s very good for our game to have us and Toulouse competing and with London hopefully coming in, it makes it a truly European Super League.”
𝐏𝐫𝐞́𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚̀ 𝐥𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞
Le nouvel entraîneur des Dragons Catalans a participé à sa première conférence de presse depuis son arrivée à la tête de l’équipe. pic.twitter.com/1QdJEYatat— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) May 22, 2026
