McNamara 'hurting' at Catalans not making top six

Steve McNamara has taken Catalans Dragons to the Grand Final in 2021 and 2023

Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara says "it hurts like hell" that the French club failed to make the Super League play-offs.

The Dragons finished the regular season in seventh, level on points with St Helens, but with a far inferior goal difference.

It comes just 12 months after they reached the Grand Final only to lose to Wigan Warriors.

"The fire in our belly is from a team that is not currently good enough to make the top six. That hurts like hell," McNamara told the club's website.

McNamara has been in charge in Perpignan since 2017 and overseen their Challenge Cup success in 2018, two Grand Final appearances and lifting the League Leaders' Shield in 2021.

But this season is Catalans' worst finish, and the first time they have missed out on the play-offs since 2020.

It promises to be a winter of change in the south of France, with the departures of longstanding players like Micky McIlorum and Mike McMeeken, but former England head coach McNamara is determined that the Dragons come back firing in 2025.

"There's a whole lot of change going on, but it's needed," he said.

"It's the end of an era in some regards with some players leaving who've played two Grand Finals.

"But right now the need for change is there and I'm really excited about the prospects for next year."