Page 21 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

CATALANS DRAGONS

RLW PREDICTS: 8th

As usual, Catalans have a pretty star Jordan Dezaria and Gavin Marguerite have
studded team heading into the new also joined the Dragons from fellow French
campaign. This off-season has seen them side Toulouse Olympique.
sign the very experienced James Maloney. The major loss for the Dragons heading
He’s won the NRL twice, with the Roosters into 2020 is their talisman Tony Gigot
first in 2013 and then the Sharks in 2016 who won the Lance Todd Trophy in 2018
and has represented Australia three times. at Wembley. It’s still not clear where he
He will partner Challenge Cup winner Josh will end up but what we do know is that he
Drinkwater after he returned to the club at won’t be playing under Steve McNamara
the end of last year. 2018 was incredibly next year. But with Sam Tomkins excelling
successful for Drinkwater in the south of at fullback last year and two new
France where he helped the Dragons win halfbacks joining the club, it’s hard to
the Cup. He’ll be hoping he can rekindle see where Gigot would have fitted in and
that form alongside Maloney. that’s probably why he’s moving on.
Catalans’ spine is completed by former Meanwhile, both Kenny Edwards and
Wigan duo Sam Tomkins and Michael Jodie Broughton have moved on to West
McIlorum and as spines go, that’s quite an Yorkshire with Huddersfield Giants and
impressive one. They certainly have plenty Halifax respectively.
of titles between them! Broughton has battled with injuries in recent
The Dragons have also moved to reunite years while Edwards has impressed and the
Sam and Joel Tomkins with the latter Giants have done well to land his signature.
joining the club from Hull KR. Catalans are another team that will
Joel adds to the already large bunch of depend highly on how their halfbacks
former Wigan players in Perpignan these perform. Maloney and particularly his
days with Tom Davies also joining their relationship with Sam Tomkins is the
ranks in the off-season alongside the likes key for the Dragons to do well. Between
of Lewis Tierney. them, they have a huge amount of big-
Davies had an injury-hit season last year but game experience that could prove the
promises to be an excellent signing for the difference in close encounters.
Dragons. Wigan have wingers coming out Sam Kasiano is a pretty effective wrecking 2020 SQUAD:
of their ears so he’s decided a change of ball as is Fouad Yaha who was tempted 1 David Mead
scenery is necessary to restart his career. back from rugby union last year.
2 Lewis Tierney
STAR PLAYER COACH 3 Samisoni Langi
5 Fouad Yaha
6 James Maloney
7 Josh Drinkwater
8 Remi Casty
9 Michael McIlorum
10 Sam Moa
11 Matt Whitley
12 Joel Tomkins
13 Benjamin Garcia
14 Julian Bousquet
The New South Wales halfback is the 15 Mickael Simon
latest in a long line of big Australian Steve McNamara has been in charge of 16 Tom Davies
imports to head for the south of France Catalans Dragons since 2017 and it’s fair 17 Benjamin Jullien
but James Maloney is perhaps the biggest to say his time at the helm has produced 18 Alrix Da Costa
of them all. mixed results.
Only last year, Maloney helped his state Of course, the major high for McNamara 19 Mickael Goudemand
secure back-to-back Origin series wins was his Challenge Cup victory in 2018 20 Lucas Albert
but at the age of 33, the former Australian with the Dragons but in his tenure, the 21 Paul Seguier
international has decided to take up a performances in the league have been a 22 Arthur Romano
three-year contract in Super League. little less impressive. 23 Antoni Maria
Maloney’s partnership with Josh Catalans finished seventh last year, four 24 Jason Baitieri
Drinkwater will be crucial along with points off the playoffs. 25 Arthur Mourgue
his combination with star fullback Sam McNamara made his name as a coach
Tomkins if the club are to survive the with Bradford Bulls before they slid out of 28 Sam Kasiano
departure of Lance Todd trophy winner Super League and he took over as England 29 Sam Tomkins
Tony Gigot. coach for five years in 2010.

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