Super League side welcome back star player after brief trip to former club in off-season

Catalans Dragons are hoping to return to the highs of 2021 in 2023.

They were enjoying a steady progression under Steve McNamara.

After winning the Challenge Cup in 2018, the Dragons climbed to fourth by 2020 and in 2021 claimed an inaugural League Leaders’ Shield prior to playing in a first ever Grand Final where they came up just short against St Helens 12-10.

In 2022, they were tipped to kick on after signing a number of star players from the NRL, but things didn’t go the way many expected in Perpignan.

They finished fourth but lost to Leeds Rhinos in the opening week of the play-offs ending their season and prompting the club to look to rebuild which has seen stars like Dean Whare, Samisoni Langi and Josh Drinkwater leave whilst Dylan Napa is likely to join them after only being at the club for one season and being regarded as one of the aforementioned star signings brought into the club for 2023.

The Dragons began pre-season a couple of weeks back but only with four players.

These were, Julian Bousquet, Manu Ma’u, Romain Navarrete and Tom Johnstone as they looked to ensure their fitness for the new year especially new signing Johnstone who left Wakefield Trinity for this opportunity.

Now Mitchell Pearce, Tom Davies and Tiaki Chan have returned to pre-season as they prepare for an opening round clash with Wakefield away on February 17th.

French publication L’Independent has confirmed that star man Pearce has returned with no injury concerns which is a major boost.

Pearce spent the off season in Australia where he returned to former club Sydney Roosters to talk to their young and upcoming talent.