The French club will share the Newcastle spotlight at the weekend, but many may not have seen much of them before.
Those who haven’t seen Sylvain Houles’ side in action have missed out. The Championship high-flyers have made a name for themselves with their blend of aggression and class.
There are some key performers who bring it all together, here are just three of them.
Mark Kheirallah
Position: Fullback
In the eyes of many, the French international is the best player in the entire division.
He made a name for himself at the World Cup when he scored a length-of-the-field try against none other than Australia.
However, he’s been carving Championship defences open for over a year now, scoring 31 tries in just 41 games.
A class act from top to bottom, it wouldn’t be a shock if the 28-year-old graced platforms like the Magic Weekend more frequently in the future.
Johnathon Ford
Position: Halfback
A player who makes things look so easy that you could viably think he was showboating.
The silky halfback is a cut above the rest on his day, with a bag full of tricks that often leaves defences embarrassed.
A Cook Islands international, Ford has a great pedigree and has established himself as one of the top players outside Super League.
Rhys Curran
Position: Second-row
The 28-year-old is held in such high regard that there were suggestions that Warrington were among a number of Super League clubs considering a move for him last season.
The back-rower is a devastating line-runner who has made a knack out of punching holes through defences.
He has scored a phenomenal 28 tries in 41 appearances since moving up to the Championship, which is just a ridiculous return for a player in his position.
A fantastic player, the Australian is one to watch.
