Thu 10th Feb: SL: St Helens v Catalans Dragons KO 20:00 SKY

[Old Frightful]

Discuss the 2022 SL opener between St Helens and Catalans Dragons here.

[Old Frightful]

Looks like JD may be a bit busy so I've opted to post the first 2022 SL game thread tonight seeing as kick off is less than 24 hours away.

Can't see anything but a home win for Skints but I'm hoping for a close contest and won't shed too many tears if Les Cats sneak it.

Sintellerns 28 Les Cats 14.

 

[Jughead]

I love the opening day of the Super League season. It’s one of my favourite dates in the calendar and starting the season with a replay of the previous year’s Grand Final is a great way to start a new season and this particular game is no exception. It’s most people’s favourites playing each other in week one and I’m really looking forward to this game. 

Saints have lost experienced heads in Coote, Naiqama and Fages but have some superb potential in Welsby and Dodd replacing two of those three as first choice and the depth added in the off-season in Sironen, Hopoate, Hurrell, Lussick and Bell just makes them look stronger than in 2021. Catalans’ losing James Maloney could have been a huge blow but Mitchell Pearce as a replacement could be huge for them and adding Dylan Napa and Tyrone May to a squad that already included Sam Tomkins, Tom Davies, Dean Whare and Arthur Mourgue makes them look far stronger and tougher than they proved to be in 2021. Aside from Derby games, I can’t think of a bigger way to start a season than this particular game. 

 

[Waynebennettswinger]

I wouldn’t be shocked if Saints lost this one, Catalans would make a huge early statement with a win!

Hoping for a cracker.

[Cw25]

Saints will edge it. Probably in a dramatic way. Making people think, Never write off the Saints.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

4 minutes ago, Saint 1 said:

I'd rather have Maloney in my team than Pearce, May and Napa combined to be honest. Agree on a GF rematch being a great way to start a new season though, thought that in 2020 when it was Saints Vs Salford.

I think Mitchell is like for like replacement as long as he comes with the same attitude as Maloney did

 

[Dallas Mead]

As it’s at the Home Bargains Arena I’ll go Saints in a close one, Catalans in a close one in the reverse fixture.

[WN83]

Catalans had a great season last year and they have a good side on paper but something keeps nagging at me and telling me to think it could be a one off (of a fashion). We’ve seen teams like Huddersfield, Cas and Salford have top seasons as one offs but they haven’t been able to string consecutive seasons together. Now Catalans probably do have a stronger team on paper than those sides but I’ll reserve judgment on how they’re going until after Easter and maybe then I’ll be convinced they’re the real deal (and I hope they are). I can’t help but think an injury to Sam Tomkins would write them off but he’s been better in that regard since his move there. 
 

As for tomorrow I’d expect Saints to win by 12-14 points. It’ll be interesting to see if they’re quite as composed/slick with the ball without Coote at fullback. He’s been like an extra halfback for them and Welsby is a superb player but a different one. Their pack should win that battle pretty comfortably though IMO and that’ll help with any teething issues. 

Edited February 9, 2022 by WN83

[Chris22]

Not a clue what will happen tbh! We have Welsby at full back, Hurrell at centre and Hopoate on the wing so a few changes from last year.

Catalans squad looks stronger this year than last, but their opening 6 fixtures are tricky.

Can't say either outcome would surprise me - if pushed, I'd back Saints by 8. Something like 14-6.

[Jim Prendle]

Catalans by 8.

[Moove]

21 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

Not a clue what will happen tbh! We have Welsby at full back, Hurrell at centre and Hopoate on the wing so a few changes from last year.

Catalans squad looks stronger this year than last, but their opening 6 fixtures are tricky.

Can't say either outcome would surprise me - if pushed, I'd back Saints by 8. Something like 14-6.

Same here really. A lot of unknowns across the whole of SL this year with so many changes in personnel.

Looking forward to seeing how our new combinations work with Welsby getting a deserved starting spot now. Although we've brought in quite a few new faces, apart from Welsby starting it's still pretty much the same team that finished last season so fingers crossed the cobwebs get blown away early.

Good to see both clubs starting the season with strong healthy squads too so hopefully we're in for a cracker.

[Scubby]

50/50 game can't wait 

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

6 hours ago, Scubby said:

50/50 game can't wait 

I’d say it’s more of a 60/40 in Saints favour, it could go either way but Saints are more likely to win, looking forward to the game it should be a great season opener. 

[HullWire]

1 hour ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

I’d say it’s more of a 60/40 in Saints favour, it could go either way but Saints are more likely to win, looking forward to the game it should be a great season opener. 

I think both sides are too good defensively to concede that many points

[Hvy wg]

As it stands Dudson and Napa are starting tonight. Bousquet, Kasiano and Dezaria the other props with May on the bench.

Goudemand, solid last season, did not convince McNamara to keep his spot.

I'll politely say I'm gutted.

[Chris22]

53 minutes ago, Hvy wg said:

As it stands Dudson and Napa are starting tonight. Bousquet, Kasiano and Dezaria the other props with May on the bench.

Goudemand, solid last season, did not convince McNamara to keep his spot.

I'll politely say I'm gutted.

That's interesting - I've liked the looks of Goudemand and would rate him above Dezaria at present.

[Saint Toppy]

The first couple of rounds of the season are always a bit of a 'lottery' as it usually takes teams a good 4-5 weeks to fully get into their stride and fans can start to see where their team is really at compared to the other teams.

Catalans are at full strength and Saints just missing Grace (though there are also doubts around Knowles who has missed the entire pre-season recovering from surgery after getting injured for England), so this game is mostly going to come down to who has had the best pre-season preparation.

Personally I think its going to be a close one and either side could nick it, though my gut feel is that Catalans will be absolutely desperate to win this one after the GF and they could walk away with the 2 points tonight.

[UTK]

1 hour ago, Hvy wg said:

As it stands Dudson and Napa are starting tonight. Bousquet, Kasiano and Dezaria the other props with May on the bench.

Goudemand, solid last season, did not convince McNamara to keep his spot.

I'll politely say I'm gutted.

Leaving Goudemand out really is staggering, I would definitely have him above Dudson and Dezaria based on last seasons performances. I am a big fan of Dezaria but at times in 2021 Goudemand was outstanding, particularly when Garcia was out he put in some massive performances while playing big minutes against top sides.

Could see him regularly starting and thriving at a couple of other SL clubs, could be a very shrewd poaching if he ends up out of favour long-term.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

11 hours ago, WN83 said:

if they’re quite as composed/slick with the ball without Coote at fullback. He’s been like an extra halfback for them and Welsby is a superb player but a different one.

Let's hope Jack can stay upright more than the at times  injury faking cheat Coote

Edited February 10, 2022 by Bedfordshire Bronco

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Saints by 6.

[The storm]

14 hours ago, Jughead said:

I love the opening day of the Super League season. It’s one of my favourite dates in the calendar and starting the season with a replay of the previous year’s Grand Final is a great way to start a new season and this particular game is no exception. It’s most people’s favourites playing each other in week one and I’m really looking forward to this game. 

Saints have lost experienced heads in Coote, Naiqama and Fages but have some superb potential in Welsby and Dodd replacing two of those three as first choice and the depth added in the off-season in Sironen, Hopoate, Hurrell, Lussick and Bell just makes them look stronger than in 2021. Catalans’ losing James Maloney could have been a huge blow but Mitchell Pearce as a replacement could be huge for them and adding Dylan Napa and Tyrone May to a squad that already included Sam Tomkins, Tom Davies, Dean Whare and Arthur Mourgue makes them look far stronger and tougher than they proved to be in 2021. Aside from Derby games, I can’t think of a bigger way to start a season than this particular game. 

 

Good summary

 

If everyone is playing for the dragons this could be very tight. 

 

Saints by 2 to 6

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

1 hour ago, UTK said:

Leaving Goudemand out really is staggering, I would definitely have him above Dudson and Dezaria based on last seasons performances. I am a big fan of Dezaria but at times in 2021 Goudemand was outstanding, particularly when Garcia was out he put in some massive performances while playing big minutes against top sides.

Could see him regularly starting and thriving at a couple of other SL clubs, could be a very shrewd poaching if he ends up out of favour long-term.

Goudemands is solid and his stats were good ftom memory last year - definitely ahead of Dezaria. I'd still gave Dudson ahead of Goudemand but only just

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

Big year of cementing and even more improving for Dodd and Welsby ....knocking on the door for the WC 

[Exiled Wiganer]

Reading the season previews, there is a consensus that Saints have the best first 17, the best squad, the best youngsters, the best coach and the best back office. Roby argues that this is the best team he has ever been involved in. So the only question is how many trophies they will win. If they win tonight, and put on a show of strength, it is very difficult to see beyond another double or even the treble, because it appears that only Catalans have the strength in depth to get close.

For that reason, it would be good to see a close game, but it is odd to be pinning hopes of a competitive competition solely on the Foreign Legion. A procession towards a 4th win on the run will be great for those with Saints allegiances, but will make it hard to pay much attention after the CC finishes in May. 

It is somewhat deflating for the competition that, in this era of a salary cap, it is Saints again, daylight, Catalans, daylight, lots of flawed collections of misfit squads, and then the also rans. 

[arcticchris]

Roby is a fantastic player and you can understand him talking up his current teammates but a quick look at the old Grand Final lineups tells me that the 2006/2007 sides were vastly better.