John Cartwright has been installed as the new head coach of Catalans Dragons with immediate effect, the club confirmed on Tuesday. The appointment ends a period of uncertainty for the French outfit, which had been operating under interim boss Ryan Sheridan since Joel Tomkins stepped down in April citing personal reasons.
Cartwright’s arrival comes just weeks after a messy divorce from Hull FC, where he had been in charge since the start of the 2024 Super League season. The Australian was told he was no longer needed last month but remained under contract until Tuesday, when the Black and Whites agreed to release him. The 55-year-old later said he felt “betrayed” and “disrespected” by the manner of his exit.
The Catalans hierarchy moved swiftly to secure his services. Club CEO Bernard Guasch is understood to have been keen to bring in a coach with NRL pedigree and Super League experience to stabilize the squad ahead of the business end of the campaign. Cartwright will be supported by Sheridan, along with assistants Micky McIlorum and Mitchell Pearce.
Cartwright’s coaching CV spans over two decades. A former Penrith Panthers forward, he cut his teeth as an assistant with his hometown club before joining the Sydney Roosters. He later earned his first head coaching role at the Gold Coast Titans in 2007. More recently, he served as an assistant at the North Queensland Cowboys, helping them claim the 2015 NRL premiership.
His transition to Super League with Hull FC yielded a seventh-place finish in 2024, a campaign that showed glimpses of promise but ultimately fell short of the playoffs. Cartwright’s pragmatic style and emphasis on defensive structure are attributes Catalans will hope can kickstart their season.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season with the Dragons,” Cartwright said in a statement. “It happened unexpectedly, which makes the challenge even more exciting. I can’t thank Bernard enough for this opportunity.” The coach did not shy away from the emotional toll of his Hull exit but stressed he is fully focused on the task ahead.
He will have little time to settle. Cartwright’s first match in the dugout is Saturday’s home fixture against York, a game that now carries extra weight as Catalans aim to climb the Super League table. The squad has been inconsistent under Sheridan, and the new boss will need to quickly instill his ideas.
For Catalans, the appointment represents a major statement of intent. After Tomkins’ sudden departure, the club risked drifting through the remainder of the season without a permanent figurehead. Cartwright’s arrival brings authority and a proven track record, though questions remain over how his intense personality will mesh with the squad.
The move also draws a line under one of the more acrimonious coaching exits in recent Super League memory. Hull FC, for their part, can now fully turn the page and focus on their own campaign after weeks of behind-the-scenes tension.
Across the league, the coaching carousel has been unusually turbulent this year. Cartwright’s relocation to Perpignan adds another layer of intrigue as the Super League enters a critical phase, with every match broadcast live on Sky Sports this season.
For Cartwright himself, the Dragons job offers a shot at redemption. If he can steer Catalans to a strong finish and possibly a playoff berth, it would go a long way toward silencing his critics and reshaping his reputation in the northern hemisphere.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.