Where next for Steve McNamara?

I always think the sign of a good coach is when they leave the club in a better position that when they arrived.

Steve McNamara was appointed Catalans coach in May 2017. In their previous match, they lost 56-12 to Huddersfield at home and sat in 9th place in the table. Catalans currently sit in 8th place after shaky start to 2025.

But to look at just the start point and the end point rarely tells the whole story. In his eight years at Catalans, Steve McNamara has won the Challenge Cup in 2018, won the League Leaders' Shield in 2021 and reached the Super League Grand Finals in 2021 and 2023.

Whilst this season has been difficult, I expect Catalans will look back on the last seven years with fondness. I recall the scenes at Perpignan airport as the team were greeted by cheering Catalans fans as they secured their first major trophy in 2018.

The welcome that the Catalans players received as they arrived at their home play off semi finals in 2021 and 2023 were unforgettable. Those victorious semi finals were played before sell out crowds and as hostile of an environment that you see for an away side in this sport.

Sam Tomkins' last second match winning try for Catalans against St Helens in that 2023 semi final was one of Super League's most memorable moments (albeit the preceding 80 minutes were largely forgettable).

Catalans, in 2021, were unfortunate not to win the Grand Final. They played superbly but just happened to come up against a St Helens side who were at the peak of their powers. In 2023, Catalans probably did not perform to the best of their abilities, though Wigan's stifling defence played a large part in that.

One criticism levelled at Steve McNamara was his seeming reluctance to bring through French players at times. Their 2023 Grand Final starting line up contained just two French players, with the likes of Arthur Romano overlooked in favour of an ineffectual Matt Ikuvalu.

There is also an argument that affording an overly generous swansong for Sam Tomkins may have stifled the development of Arthur Mourgue, who is now the starting full back at table-topping Hull KR.

Though in 2025, McNamara has shown faith in the likes of Matthieu Laguerre and Guillermo Aspiro-Bichet.

Many say coaches have a shelf life and perhaps now was the time for Steve McNamara and Catalans to part ways and perhaps both will benefit from that in the long run.

I have always felt that Steve McNamara has been treated harshly by fans. For example, he seemed to face for more criticism as England coach than, say, Shaun Wane did when his side exited a home World Cup to Samoa, when his record was comparable to those who have preceded and followed him.

McNamara has been a coach in Super League, at international level and an assistant coach in the NRL across almost 20 years now. You don't get those opportunities by chance. His time at Catalans has brought unparalled success.

I suspect if Steve McNamara had an Australian accent many may think higher of him. What I am certain of is that many clubs will be after his services in 2026. His inevitable future appointment may not be seen as flashy, as it wasn't at Catalans, but it may be prudent.

And if he can be anywhere near as successful at his next club as he was at Catalans, then his stock will continue to rise.