Steve McNamara has opened up on the ‘astronomical’ changes being made at Catalans Dragons in order to avoid a repeat of this season.
The Dragons spent much of the campaign inside the Super League play-offs, but a late drop off in form, with the club winning just four of their last 10 games, saw them miss out on the knockout stages of the competition. McNamara has taken full responsibility for the French club’s collapse and efforts have already been made to refresh his squad.
Catalans have announced six signings so far, with Tommy Makinson, Nick Cotric, Ollie Partington, Elliott Whitehead, Luke Keary and Tevita Pangai Junior making the move to Perpignan. A host of departures have been confirmed, too, with Mike McMeeken, Micky McIlorum, Tom Davies and Tom Johnstone among those bidding farewell to the south of France.
McNamara has his hinted that another signing could yet be announced and with ‘world class’ additions coming in behind the scenes, he firmly believes the only way is up for Catalans.
“We did not prepare well enough for 2024, simple as that,” McNamara said in a Catalans Dragons press conference published on the club’s website. “In hindsight looking back now we went all out to win that Grand Final last year.
“Players were retiring, staff were leaving, key staff in terms of coaching and administration, Neil McIlroy, Sam Moa, Eamon O’Carroll, big big players were retiring, big players were leaving the organisation. When I reflect back on the amount of time spent looking at 2024, it was minimal. It’s hurt us. The answer, and I understood this early on this season, was not to make the same mistake.
“The changes we are making and have already made to our playing group and support staff are astronomical. The work we’ve done and preparation going into next season is way above and beyond anything I’ve done here before.
“At the minute we have seven players coming in, outstanding players. We’ve got a new head of performance who is absolutely world class. He will turn this team into a very very athletic, strong team.
“We get a pre-season this year, a full six weeks before Christmas so Ryan (Whitley) who’s coming in has got a lot of time to work with. We have new coaches coming in, new medical people, there’s a whole lot of change going on within our club and it’s needed. There’s no two ways about it.
“I’m really excited about the prospect of next year.”
