Joel Tomkins Leaves Catalans Dragons Due to Personal Circumstances

Joel Tomkins has announced his decision to step down as head coach of Catalans Dragons, citing personal reasons for his departure. Having held the position for nearly a year, Tomkins revealed that the time spent away from his family had taken a toll, leading him to make the difficult decision to leave the club after just seven games into the Super League season, with the team currently sitting sixth in the standings. Tomkins initially took on the role as an interim coach following Steve McNamara's exit but was later appointed as the permanent head coach, a position he held at the club where he spent the latter part of his playing career. In a statement, Tomkins expressed his gratitude for the experiences and friendships gained during his tenure, acknowledging the challenges he faced as a rookie head coach. However, he emphasized that the prolonged separation from his family proved too difficult to overcome. Tomkins' departure comes after he was absent from the club's last three fixtures, which sparked speculation about his future. Ryan Sheridan, along with assistant coaches Micky McIlorum and Mitchell Pearce, will take over as interim head coach, with their first game in charge scheduled for April 18 against the top-of-the-table Warrington Wolves in the Super League. All Super League games will be broadcast live on Sky Sports this season.