If there’s one club that divides the opinions of rugby league fans, it’s Catalans Dragons, with the debate over their contributions to Super League.
This was highlighted during former boss Steve McNamara’s appearance on Sky Sports’ coverage of the Wakefield Trinity and Leeds Rhinos game, when he stated that the RFL are trying to ‘choke out’ the French sides.
His comments were discussed heavily online, and they’ve split rugby league fans into two camps: those who believe the Dragons have contributed greatly to the game over here, and those who feel like they take away more from the game than they add.
Here are some of the best comments from our Facebook page and across social media.
Rugby league fans talk Catalans contributions to Super League
John Musgrave: Agree 100% with him. To me, they should be treated exactly the same as every other club, not forced to subsidise their competition.
Wayne Holiday: The French have not enhanced the game over there; two clubs amalgamated to make the Catalans, with no real improvement elsewhere. When Toulouse got promoted, they brought in players who were released by other Super League clubs, players surplus to requirements and immediately went back down. Catalans have had too many non-French players, so for me, it is failing.
Graham Jones: Get rid of Catalans, and any prospect of Sky renewing their contract on better or even current terms will be gone.
Dale Heskett: He is right, the tail wagging the dog in our game yet again. If your business plan relies on away fans from one club, you don’t have a viable business to begin with. It really gets on my nerves. We have fans here who moan about travelling down the M62, but expect fans to travel from Perpignan for a Thursday or Friday night game. At least Catalans set games for a Saturday evening to allow travel.
Craig Gibson: There are owners who resent that Catalans generate more money from home games than their clubs do, but instead of working to get their clubs up to Catalans’ level, they stamp their feet, shouting, “Not fair!” and try to drag Catalans down to their level. They know they can’t throw Catalans out, so they put all these extra conditions on them in the hope that they decide to walk away.
Kev Rowberry: Good, they bring nothing to the other 11 sides in Super League. Even Huddersfield take more to France than they bring over here. Get rid and put the money into a Cumbrian side.
Paul Flockton: In the early days, thousands were given to Paris and Catalans to survive in Super League and nothing to English, especially Cumbrian, clubs. Castleford were relegated one season, even though they finished above Catalans. The French teams have had all the support of the RFL and, in my opinion, have not given a lot back.
Mike Harrison: Why does the English game rely so heavily on away supporters?
Steven Hutson: People are saying they don’t bring support over here. Look how much it costs us a supporter to go there once a season, and then look at the costs it would be for their supporters each two weeks to come over here, but they do have 9-11k home crowds more than some here.
Wiganexpat
July 27, 2025 at 1:40 pm
I cannot believe some of these comments. We need a strong Rugby League game in France and as small as they are, Catalans is the best we have got. This sport cannot survive if all it has is its little corner in the North of England. France has some very strong Union sides and it shouldn’t be that difficult to steal some of their lunch and build a stronger French Rugby League contingent. You do not do that by kicking the best they have got in the guts. I know we are cash strapped but Catalans need investing in not the reverse.