Fri 5th May: SL: Catalans Dragons v St Helens KO 19:45 (UK time) (Sky)

[John Drake]

Discuss Catalans Dragons v St Helens here.

[Archie Gordon]

Catalans taking a risk by naming 8 players who weren't fit last weekend. Fingers crossed for them all.

[Just Browny]

Great to see so many Saints players have been restored to health after missing the test match.

[Oxford]

You'd thinks Saints but calç i ana al tribal les Dracs!

[Saint Toppy]

19 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

Great to see so many Saints players have been restored to health after missing the test match.

Still bitter that your beloved 'Its your year' Wire got smashed the week before by a Saints team missing 7 first choice players players I see 

Catalans away from home is always one of the toughest fixtures of the year and if you'd asked me a month ago how I thought this game would go i'd probably have said it would be an easy 2 points for the Dragons. But for the first time since the WCC Saints actually played, well like Saints, 2 weeks ago and getting Walmsley & Sironen back will be a massive boost to the pack.

While I don't think the Dragons pack will roll over like Wire did, having these 2 big players back should give Saints the edge in the middle.

I'm going for Saints 28 - 18 Dragons

 

[Jughead]

We never beat Catalans when I go to Perpignan. I’m not going to Perpignan so Saints will win. 

[Cw25]

Catalans 28-24 St Helens

[Tippytoe]

Both teams guilty of withholding players from international duty this game should show whether Catalans are serious contenders or not.

[Chris22]

Interesting that there are no comments about all 3 of Huddersfield's withdrawals from England named in their 21 man squad or both of Leeds' withdrawals set to play this week on their match thread? 

Our squad, on the face of it, looks a lot stronger this week. There are whispers that Lees and Dodd will miss out but Makinson will return. Thought Ritson and Bennison were excellent last time out and it'll be harsh on whoever misses out but if Makinson is fit he has to play. Unless Dodd is out, then Bennison will probably move to full back and Welsby to half back.

Catalans have been in poor form lately too and the break makes it hard to call. We haven't won at Catalans in the league since 2018 so maybe they are slight favourites.

[Davo5]

Saints will be hoping their detour to Lourdes pays off but Catalans to edge a tight encounter.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Catalans by 8.

[Tippytoe]

Jon Wilkin to receive biggest fibber of the year award after going public and saying he's not biased towards Saints  

[moorside roughyed]

Saints for this one.

[ATLANTISMAN]

Totally gutted (First Dragons match i will miss for ages) sitting here at home with really bad food poisoning (5 days now) thats London west end restaurants for you nowadays:((( expensive s--t.

Will watch on my laptop between the bed and bog (I am sure you all wanted to know that) 

Heart Dragons by 4

Head Saints by 8

 

Paul

[Old Frightful]

I'm guessing this ain't a Sky original transmission so are they piggy backing on the L'Equipe broadcast?

[Phil]

Heart says Les Dracs but head says Saints 

[Old Frightful]

At least Walmsley wasn't able to throw his arms in the air then.

[Old Frightful]

Massive early pressure on Saints but Catalans unable to score, I wonder if the demons will start to appear?

Saints' knock on so more pressure on the way.

[Just Browny]

Catalans play the ball with the foot and it is called as a knock on.

[dkw]

Pearce trying to milk that, silly sod.

[Old Frightful]

Already Saints look far superior with ball in hand.

[dkw]

Quality try that.

[Old Frightful]

Les Cats with probably at least 70% ish possession but Saints score first.

[Just Browny]

There is some very average attacking play in SL from close to the line. Catalans' attacks from close range have been completely useless.

[Futtocks]

Catalans have a new big lad up front. There may be discipline problems, though.

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Futtocks