Dragons’ Desire And Learning From Failure: Catalans Craving Old Trafford Again

Tomkins opened up to The Sportsman this week on the lessons learnt from that heartbreaking night in Manchester last October
16:00, 08 Sep 2022

Sam Tomkins still hasn’t got over the 2021 Grand Final. 

The England captain admits he will only ever be at peace with it when the trophy is finally adorned with the Catalans red and gold.

The Dragons had capped their best ever season with a first appearance under the Old Trafford lights and for Tomkins the magnitude of the occasion was elevated by two further factors.

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The opposition for the passionate Wiganer were arch rivals St Helens, the back-to-back champions. And he would also have to compete with painkilling injections to numb a knee injury upon which he probably shouldn’t have played.

Yet still they got close, so close, losing out 12-10 having let key moments slip to make history with a win.

Sometimes moments of intense pain are tough to discuss. But Tomkins opened up to The Sportsman this week on the lessons learnt from that heartbreaking night in Manchester last October.

“It still stings,” he admits, with the air of a man who can visualise the key final few agonising minutes when he closes his eyes at night.

“I’m such a bad loser, because I love winning. I don’t think anyone gets over a loss like that because every time you think about it, it frustrates you as much as it did the day after.”

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The Dragons trailed by two points at half-time 12 months ago, but after Saints winger Tommy Makinson became the first player ever sin-binned in a Grand Final, the French side hit the front through Mike McMeeken. That lead was maintained to within 14 minutes of the final hooter, before man-of-the-Match Kevin Naiqama broke Catalans’ hearts with his second try of the game to steal it.

“We were really close. Really close” Tomkins adds.

“We were playing against the best team and we learned that we are not far off, that it is achievable, and that no team is unbeatable. We have also learned from last year how to play in big games.

“The big thing for me now is winning a Grand Final with this club, so to come within two points of that was devastating. But it will spur me and the club on from now until we win it.

“There is no reason this club can’t go on and do it now. I think we probably have a stronger squad this year than we had last year. Three wins. That’s all it is.”

The 33-year old Tomkins has been a notable presence alongside head coach Steve McNamara this season during his most recent injury breaks, with the experienced England captain becoming an increasingly influential part of the Dragons staff. 

McNamara shares Tomkins’ frustrations at a stop-start season but is confident they are now in the best possible shape at the best possible time.

“We are slightly disappointed not to finish in the top two but that is a measure of how far we have come as a club,” he told The Sportsman.

“But close is not good enough. We had our opportunity last year but fell short. We know that. Teams who want to win it find a way on a consistent basis. We hurt from it, it still stings, but we have to earn the opportunity to get back there.”

McNamara admits his side have fallen back into the pack this season after becoming one of last season’s leading contenders. But that has not blunted the Dragons’ desire.

“From the outside there may be less noise around us this year but internally our expectation is high. I like the fact that we have had to fight, scrap, kick our way into this position and be under pressure a lot. 

“We are all aware of the potential danger of any of these teams. All six playoff teams will think they have a real chance of winning this, I genuinely think that.”

McNamara has been a vocal defender of French rugby league this year in the face of a perceived threat to their very existence at the top table.

He now has the limelight and platform of a playoff finals series, which the Catalans boss appreciates is a double-edged sword.

“Every time we play we represent French rugby league. I was concerned last Friday against Wigan with it being live on French TV, and broadcast in England, Australia and New Zealand, that we could have ended up with egg on our faces but I think it further enhanced our reputation.

“Every time we step our foot on that field is a step in the right direction for French rugby league. I’m strong on expansion and doing things differently. What Catalans have given to Super League in its relatively short history is incredible.”

One thing McNamara will not do differently is his attitude to success. Having toppled Leeds at the Stade Gilbert Brutus only 10 days ago, the former England boss will be setting his side up to do exactly the same again.

Such are the peculiar quirks of the fixture computer that this is the Rhinos’ third trip back to Perpignan in six weeks.

“They are here so often they should all be speaking French by now,” says Tomkins.

“They are very dangerous when they have momentum.” 

The Rhinos edged the first of those trips, winning a high-scoring game 36-32 with a dramatic fightback. The Dragons held sway with a dominant performance on August Bank Holiday Monday and will be favourites to do the same again to end Leeds’ season.

Catalans are 8/1 to win the Grand Final with Betfred*

*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change

Pictures courtesy of swpix.com

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