Next year Catalans will be even stronger with the addition of Samuel Tomkins. This raises the spectre of Catalans winning the Grand Final at Old Trafford in 2019, and maybe even winning the Challenge Cup at Wembley two years in a row.

Of course I am aware that Les Catalans Dragons will face strong challenges from other clubs, but Benjamin Barba will leave St Helens and return to the NRL, while Wigan will lose Samuel Tomkins, John Bateman and others, and Jake Webster is leaving Castleford. So the tide is turning towards Les Catalans Dragons and at least there is the possibility of a dazzling double for France.

Sorry but Jake Webster leaving Cas isn't a great example

No , cats will win nothing next year except the MPG

Steve stop being generous.

They could go back to back with cup wins, happens a lot when a team wins they get s taste for the cup. Hull just won 2 on the trot, Leeds likewise before that. Warrington did 3 out of 4 and Saints did 3 in a row 06-08

I hope they do (preferably not at wire's expense again)

Who will play full back for Catalans next year, Lance Todd winner Tony Gigot or Sam Tomkins

It just seems to have all clicked since late May for Catalans and with the pack they have they live with anyone on any given day right now. With players to come in that will make them even stronger they have to be considered a serious threat for both comps next year.

Nobody cares...the Cup Final attendance is a sad indictment of what Catalans actually bring to the table.

Yes because the last few cup finals played between two traditional RL power houses were complete sell outs and looked fantastic on tv...oh hang on.....

Hmmm your types were not saying that in 2007 when Catalans were last at Wembley. Flawed opinion mate. RFL to blame for taking supporters for granted and not promoting the event professionally!

If anything I think Catalans have completely messed up with their recruitment. They made their moves early, when their season was a mess and their side was looking like relegation candidates.

They've brought in Sam Tomkins, when Tony Gigot has been an absolute revelation at fullback recently. Are they really going to shift him to fit Sammy Boy in? Really?

Same with Matty Smith, who Jon Wilkin confirmed on commentary would be playing at Catalans next season. Are they really going to split up Langi and Drinkwater? Really?

They could end up with either 40% of their cap spend not playing, or breaking up the very reasons they've just won their first trophy.

Catalans dreadful start to the season was down to the fact they were playing without half backs.

With Tomkins, Gigot, Langi and Drinkwater or Smith, that won’t be the case next year.

Reasonable points.

I think that in 2019 Samuel Tomkins will be playing no. 6, with Antoine Gigot at no. 1.

As for Samisoni Langi I don't know what contract he is on, but if he is till on contract for 2019 he could be shifted to centre if David Mead was to leave (which I think is unlikely). Otherwise Langi will be a reserve no 6

As for Joshua Drinkwater, he is quite adequate at no 7, with the bonus of being a good goal kicker. I don't see the point of letting him go and replacing him with Matthew Smith.

I believe that Catalans, despite buying Matthew Smith, will be in the hunt for silverware in 2019. There is no point in dismissing them now that they have won the Challenge Cup for the first time. They are a force to be reckoned with.

They’d have been better sticking with Drinkwater

Ignoring the war years, the attendance this year for a Challenge Cup final was the lowest for over 80 years. Warrington played Hull 2 years ago and the attendance was 50% higher.

The people of France, which is an important country located on the other side of the English Channel from Hull. France is a country where the people drink water as well as wine. It is a nation of great culture.

But not great at Geography

You should not always listen to what people tell you john-claude, the Netherlands are on the other side of the channel from Hull, living in Chorley seems to be hampering your education some what, they also eat snails and frogs legs as well probably washed down with wine and water, which I'm sure you've sampled there on your stop overs between Chorley and Kiev.

Our types are bright enough to realise that the 2007 attendance was massively boosted by it being the first final back at the newly rebuilt Wembley.

how dozy can you get

Dozy enough to think the North Sea is the English Channel!

Check your council tax bill, it's just doubled due to the extension of the English Channel up the North East coast!