Catalans Dragons and the pursuit of greatness

"Catalans have lost Casty, Moa, Simon, Maria, Folau, Tierney and Mead. I worry that with the signings of only Dudson and McMeeken (in the pack), whether Catalans have enough grunt up front to trouble the play offs this year." Yes, that was me, as I suggested at the start of the season that Catalans would finish in 7th place at the season's end.

Catalans, with just under two months of the season to go, are almost guaranteed play off rugby. Having lost only one Super League match all season and beaten every side bar Warrington in 2021, is it time to start talking of Catalans as title contenders?

I am always weary of talking up title challengers at this stage of a season, especially for clubs that have never won a Super League title. That is because we see a familiar pattern emerging. Take Warrington in 2011. They were magnificent all season but undone in the play-offs by a more wiley and experienced Leeds team. Huddersfield in 2013. Hull FC in 2006 and 2016. Castleford in 2017. These are all sides that have either won or competed hard for the League Leaders' Shield yet fell short at or before the final hurdle. 

Salford in 2019 followed a different route, a late-season surge in form taking them to a maiden Grand Final. They also fell short. The latest team to find themselves in this virgin territory are the Catalans Dragons. Their talent and form is not in question. The big question, instead, is why may they succeed where others have failed?

The potential answer to that question is in their personnel. Sam Tomkins, Tom Davies, Michael McIlorum and Gil Dudson have all won the championship before. James Maloney is a two-time NRL Grand Final winner and has seen most things in the game. Plenty of the other players in Catalans squad were part of the 2018 squad that won the Challenge Cup. This is not a team who are wet behind the ears.

What may be crucial to Catalans chances is where they finish in the league. In my view, a top two finish is essential if Catalans are to become just the fifth side to have their name etched on the Super League trophy. If they finish 1st, they are likely to face a home semi final against the side who finished 4th, it may even be the side that finishes 5th or 6th. It is a fixture that they would expect to win and a fixture that few opposing sides would want in a play off. Even if Catalans finish 2nd, they will still be in the position of being one home win away from a Grand Final, albeit they would face a side who has finished higher in the league standings.

Catalans' greatest weakness throughout their history has been away form. In 2020, almost all of their fixtures were away from home, and even in 2021, they have faced a disproportionate number of away fixtures early in the season (including playing the opening rounds at neutral, but English, venues). Catalans were left in a 'sink or swim' position. If they could not improve their away form, they were in big trouble.

Head coach Steve McNamara has spoken repeatedly of a 'no excuse' mentality for away matches. Travel and tiredness are never mentioned by the players or staff. McNamara appears to have harvested a winning mentality at the club.

He has come a long way since his much-maligned (perhaps unfairly) time as England head coach. Many raised an eyebrow when McNamara was appointed by Catalans, especially as during the opening few months, Catalans plummeted down the league table and only survived relegation in 2017 in a play off against Leigh. Imagine if that result had gone differently? No 2018 Challenge Cup win, no league leadership challenge, no top class players in Perpignan. It would have been a disaster for French rugby league.

In September 2017, to even talk of Catalans Dragons in the bracket of title contenders would have seen fanciful. You may have seen more people talk of Catalans as a Championship promotion contender.

Instead, they have now won all bar one of their Super League fixtures to date. Every other 'new' contender has fallen by the wayside at one stage or another. If Catalans can find a way of bucking that trend, and if they can take the Super League title to Perpignan, this will be a side that would enter French rugby league folklore, alongside the dominant international sides of the 1950's. And what a boost it would be ahead of the French World Cup campaign in October (*crosses fingers*).

We are a long way from any of these French dreams becoming reality but we are also a lot closer that Catalans fans could once have thought possible.

On Saturday, they travel to St Helens in a battle of the top two. It is Catalans greatest test so far. Whilst the result (win or lose) will not define their season, it may indicate the direction of travel.