Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara is a “victim of his own success” according to Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin with the French side currently at risk of missing out on the Super League playoffs.
Les Dracs still sit inside the playoffs and will do so after the conclusion of Round 22 regardless of results but an 18-6 loss to Leeds Rhinos last night saw their gap cut to just two points, and should Leigh beat London Broncos then they’ll draw within one point.
With a clash against Wigan Warriors coming up next there are serious questions to be asked about their playoff hopes and understandably pressure on Steve McNamara, however, Jon Wilkin has argued that is down to the recent successes that the Englishman has led Catalans to.
Speaking pre-match on Sky Sports, Wilkin explained: “I think he’s a victim of his own success, look 2021 finished first, fourth in 2022 and second last year. As we said in the build-up earlier, they’ve been really pushing for the top two.
“Now this year, and especially when you break the season down into two halves, up to around 11 they’d only lost three games. In the last 11 games, they’ve lost six. So it’s more the alarming decline in their form, and it’s been happening over a period of time.
“I think the pressure has built with Steve, it has to because they’re a team that wants to be pushing for the top two regardless of personnel but it does seem crazy.”
Will Catalans make the Super League playoffs?
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One of the biggest reasons why it’s believed that there is pressure on Steve McNamara is due to the comments from the club’s President Bernard Guasch after their shock loss to London Broncos a few weeks ago.
Guasch claimed that he had “never been so ashamed in 25 years of presidency”, before adding: “I’ll think about the decisions to be made on Friday night depending on the performance at Huddersfield, or at the end of August. And I’m talking about the coaching staff, but also the players. I’m very angry and I won’t say more for the moment.”
On the notion of McNamara being sacked, Sky Sports’ Brian Carney argued: “It would be a crazy move for the Catalans Dragons to make after he’s brought such a prolonged period of success to this club who are desperate for that consistency.”
In response, St Helens Jodie Cunningham offered her verdict, explaining: “Absolutely, look Steve McNamara has done so much for this club. He’s basically got them as a playoff contender year in and year out. This would be their fifth (consecutive) playoff place but we’re marking this game as a must-win.
“You hear Steve there say that they’re desperate for the win but they are looking likely to stay in the playoff place and if they get themselves in that top six you never know what can happen.”
What has gone wrong for Catalans Dragons?
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Jon Wilkin highlighted what had gone wrong for the French side this season after having made the Super League Grand Final in 2023 with the ex-Saints skipper highlighting poor recruitment as being the club’s downfall.
“You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. I think just having Sam around us this season made me realise how much he actually brought to the team just away from the visible things we can see on TV or when we’re watching games.
“Sam brought an incredible amount of on-field coaching, that rugby IQ and acumen that’s really difficult to replace. I don’t think Steve McNamara is under pressure now, but come round six, seven, eight, maybe even round 10 next year, that’s when it’ll pinch for him, if it doesn’t turn around.”
After losing key playmakers Mitchell Pearce and Sam Tomkins, as well as goal-kicking centre Adam Keighran, Catalans signed Jordan Abdull, Theo Fages and Jayden Nikorima.
Abull has missed the majority of the season through injury, Fages hasn’t hit the heights he showed at St Helens and Nikorima is already plying his trade at Salford Red Devils after being sacked earlier in the year.
