Sam Tomkins’ fitness statement as Catalans Dragons star admits club needs luck to ‘scrape’ play-offs

Sam Tomkins has argued that Catalans Dragons will need other results to go their way if they’re to make the Super League play-offs, whilst also offering an update on his fitness after recently returning to the team.

Catalans secured a much-needed win last week when they beat Huddersfield Giants 32-0 but that marked their first win since April with Les Dracs snapping a seven-game losing streak.

Such a losing streak has left Catalans five points adrift of the play-offs heading into Round 17 and a loss away to opponents Wakefield would see that gap increase.

After missing the play-offs in 2024, Catalans recruited very heavily and had higher ambitions than simply making the six but they’re now in a major battle to ‘scrape’ the play-offs according to Sam Tomkins, whose brother Joel has just been confirmed as head coach for the remainder of 2025.

“We understand the position we’re in,” the veteran full-back said to club media ahead of the clash with Trinity.

“We’ve not played very well this year which has meant we’re in a difficult position with half the season gone.

“Everybody has got to improve, myself included. I want to have an effect on the team. I think everyone is working really hard and we saw last week that we were better than in previous weeks so we need to continue like that.”

Sam Tomkins backs his body to complete the season

Tomkins hasn’t had an extended run in the side due to injuries, however, he has played the last two matches and has explained that he expects to be able to see out the remaining eleven games and any possible play-off matches.

“I’m not 21-years-old,” he admitted.

“I felt better ten years ago but I’m fine. I do a lot of work with the physios and the S&C to make sure that on the weekends, I’m as good as I possibly can be.

“The fact is that I’m 36-years-old and I’ve played a lot of rugby but my body is good enough to finish the year, I know that.”

As it stands, Catalans have just eleven games left to play this season but should they make the play-offs then that number will increase but Sam Tomkins is very aware how tough that will be, admitting the club likely need the luck of other teams losing to ensure they make the six.

He explained: “We understand how difficult that will be (making the play-offs). We probably need some results to go our way and for us to find some real good form for a long time. We need to win the majority of the games and cross our fingers.

“That’s still the objective, we know we can’t finish high as we wanted to but we’ve got to win as many games as possible and hope we can scrape inside the six.”

A win against Wakefield on the road would be a huge statement of intent ahead of their home game against fellow play-off chasers Warrington Wolves, both matches that Les Dracs need to win to have any realistic hope of making the top six.