We’re used to being written off: Sam Tomkins says Catalans will ignore outside predictions for 2023

Catalans will ignore outside predictions heading into the 2023 season insists full-back and star man Sam Tomkins. 

Tomkins, 33, insists the Dragons are “used to be written off” as the side prepare for their opening game with a trip to Wakefield on Friday.

Just two seasons ago, Steve McNamara’s side claimed their first-ever League Leaders’ Shield in 2021, and finished fourth on the table either side of that in 2020 and 2022.

Catalans were knocked out in the elimination play-offs last season by eventual Grand Finalists Leeds. During the off-season, the French outfit have released the likes of Josh Drinkwater, Dean Whare and Sam Kasiano. 

Tomkins himself will not return to action until next month following a knock sustained during England’s World Cup campaign, but believes his side will be up there once again this forthcoming campaign.

“We’re used to being written off” – Sam Tomkins

“I’ve seen some of the predictions and they don’t really concern me,” said Tomkins.

“We know we’re being doubted as not as good as we have been in previous years, but we are the ones who are in control of how our season will go.

“We’re used to being written off. People didn’t expect us to win the Challenge Cup or to reach the Grand Final.

“We’ve lost a few players over the close season but we’ve retained a lot of pivotal players in key positions, and we haven’t left too big of a hole.”

Sam Tomkins on World Cup heartbreak

Tomkins was a part of the England side that were knocked out of the semi-finals by Samoa at the Emirates Stadium at last year’s delayed World Cup on home soil.

The former NRL and Wigan full-back endured a “grim” week dealing with the heartbreak, but has become the latest player to back Shaun Wane to retain his job as the international boss.

“When you go through an experience of getting knocked out you spend a few days going through every scenario and how things might have been different. But then you reach a point where you’ve got to switch off and get on with things,” Tomkins said.

“It was a pretty grim period and you soon become sick of people asking about it. It was very tough to take at the time so getting home to France with my family was a nice relief, and really the catalyst for being able to resume normal life again.

“Shaun is still the man for the job”

“I’ve never taken losing very well. But I’ve lost big games in the past and been able to deal with it, and I’ve managed to deal with this in the same way.

“It’s not a case of learning anything from the experience, you just get on with what you were doing before.”

Tomkins continued: “The World Cup showed there is still an appetite for international rugby league and I think the only way to capitalise on that is to get more games and really good games – we want to play the best like Australia and Zealand, Tonga and Samoa.

“It’s obvious to me that Shaun is still the man for the job, provided he has still got the passion for it. To be fair to him, we need to put a programme in place before he can make the decision. For Shaun to be at his best, he needs to know he has something to get his teeth into.”

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