Catalans appoint Mick Potter as new
coach

Super League newcomers Catalans Dragons have appointed Australian Mick Potter, a former assistant at Bradford Bulls, as their new head coach.

Potter, who cut his coaching teeth as right-hand man to fellow countryman Matthew Elliott at Odsal in the early years of Super League from 1996-99, succeeds Englishman Steve Deakin, who was sacked just before Christmas.

Potter has spent the last four years as coach of St George Illawarra?s Premier League team, whom he took to two Grand Finals.

Dragons chief executive Grant Mayer said: ?This is a great day for the club. To sign someone with as much experience as a player and a coach as Mick Potter is a great testament to the project we have here.

?David Waite, Matt Adamson and Paul Donkin have done a fantastic job here with the team since Christmas, however we are now really looking forward to the next stage and that means having a single dedicated head coach.?

Potter was recommended for the post by former Great Britain coach David Waite, now director of football at the Catalans.

He played under Waite as captain and full-back for St George and also played for Canterbury Bankstown and Perth Reds.

After leaving Bradford in 1999, Potter took charge of the New South Wales Under-17s, guiding them to consecutive wins over Queensland.

Potter is now making arrangements for the move from Australia to France and is expected to be in Perpignan for the Dragons? third home match against Leeds on March 11.