By STEVE MASCORD

CATALANS CEO Sebastien Munoz has compared the Dragons’ rookie coach Joel Tomkins to premiership-winning Sydney Roosters mentor Trent Robinson.

The Perpignan club raised eyebrows last year when they decided to stick with their caretaker following the departure of Steve McNamara, appointing 38-year-old Tomkins to the job full-time.

Former St George Illawarra boss Paul McGregor, ex-Catalans coach Mick Potter and a host of other more experienced men were mentioned in dispatches.

But Munoz tells rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads ahead of Tomkins’ first full season in charge: “He’s a young coach but he has clear idea, he has a similitude with the coach of Sydney Roosters.

“When he arrived here, Trent, yes he was young but there is a similitude, they are similar.”

Robinson coached Catalans in 2011 and 2012, winning 37 of 63 games for a percentage of 59%.

Munoz said of Tomkins: “He knows the club. He played here. He’s enthusiastic. I have a young team and I think he’s a good man at a good time, in a good position.

“And he’s very smart. I like to work with Joel. Each week I have a meeting with Joel and he’s very clear, he has a good idea.

“It’s white or black. It’s not grey, it’s very easy to work with him – ‘it’s OK’; or ‘it’s not OK’.

“And I think he’s a competitor – very much so, When he loses, it’s not good. In the game he’s (gesticulates) ‘What? No! Yes!’.

“He’s a good man for a good club. I want the season to start.”

That will happen on January 30 when Catalans host Toulouse in a pre-season match at Stade Gilbert Brutus.