{"id":600252,"date":"2026-05-23T19:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T19:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/600252\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T19:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T19:10:12","slug":"john-cartwright-sets-stall-out-as-catalans-dragons-set-challenge-by-new-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/600252\/","title":{"rendered":"John Cartwright sets stall out as Catalans Dragons set challenge by new coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

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John Cartwright has insisted that his Catalans Dragons players must show him a response after last week\u2019s 58-10 loss to Wakefield Trinity, with the new head coach challenging them to being able to walk off the field against York Knights this evening and be able to \u2018look in the mirror and say you gave your best\u2019.<\/p>\n

That should be the bare minimum at the Super League level but Catalans folded massively in the second-half against Wakefield as they conceded 48 points and were dominated in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n

Appointed earlier this week<\/a>, John Cartwright has had just a handful of days with the squad, to the point where he\u2019s still trying to learn names, and that\u2019s why he\u2019s asked for an effort-first performance tonight.<\/p>\n

Speaking in his first presser, the Australian said: \u201cYou want to see how you respond to it. There\u2019s not a lot you can do in a week to fix all the wrongs but what we need to see is a response physically and to be able to walk off the field and look in the mirror and say you gave it your best.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also admitted that even in the coming weeks and months, much of how Catalans play will be dictated by what they did in pre-season with his own influence to be minor.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s getting to know players, getting to know the staff roles, getting to know the style of football that we\u2019ve been practicing because what has been embedded in the pre-season won\u2019t change, so I have to get to know that style of football.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll then slowly have my sort of input but now I\u2019m still getting to know the names of players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Motive for Brodie Croft Rhinos exit & Hull FC\u2019s unwanted record \u2013 Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show<\/a><\/p>\n

Consistency the key at Catalans claims John Cartwright<\/p>\n

John Cartwright is well aware that he has plenty of talent at his disposal though, it\u2019s just about unlocking it and then developing consistency.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cThey\u2019ve won some really tough games, to beat Warrington and to beat Hull KR are massive achievements but to be part of that top four, you\u2019ve got to be consistent and win the games you\u2019re expected to win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt shows me that there is talent there and there is ability to be able to win against the better sides in the competition, so it\u2019s my job to find some consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the prestige of landing the role as Catalans head coach, Cartwright expressed gratitude at the opportunity and spoke on the importance of the club to help develop the game outside the heartlands.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really exciting opportunity,\u201d he declared, adding: \u201cI\u2019ve followed Super League for a long time and I was really excited to get an opportunity at Hull (FC). Things didn\u2019t quite pan out there the way that I would have liked and then the opportunity to keep coaching in Super League came along through Bernard and the Catalans Dragons.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Catalans are) potentially a really important piece of the puzzle for rugby league to be successful in the south of France and our game in general.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s very good for our game to have us and Toulouse competing and with London hopefully coming in, it makes it a truly European Super League.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Le nouvel entra\u00eeneur des Dragons Catalans a particip\u00e9 \u00e0 sa premi\u00e8re conf\u00e9rence de presse depuis son arriv\u00e9e \u00e0 la t\u00eate de l\u2019\u00e9quipe. pic.twitter.com\/1QdJEYatat<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) May 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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