Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 Challenge Cup Quarter Final between Catalans Dragons versus Salford Red Devils.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Catalans Dragons vs Salford Red Devils
Venue: Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
Date: Friday April 4, 8:00pm (BST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Catalans Dragons: Sam Tomkins, Tommy Makinson, Arthur Romano, Reimis Smith, Nick Cotric, Luke Keary, Tevita Pangai Jr, Benjamin Garcia, Julian Bousquet, Tariq Sims, Elliott Whitehead, Oliver Partington, Alrix Da Costa, Chris Satae, Bayley Sironen, Cesar Rouge, Paul Seguier, Theo Fages, Matthieu Laguerre, Franck Maria, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet.
Salford Red Devils squad: Ryan Brierley, Deon Cross, Jayden Nikorima, Joe Mellor, Chris Hill, Kallum Watkins, Joe Shorrocks, Chris Atkin, Shane Wright, Esan Marsters, Jack Ormondroyd, Matty Foster, Chris Hankinson, Harvey Wilson, Kai Morgan, Nathan Connell, Tiaki Chan, Finley Yates, George Hill, Jonny Vaughan.
M Com: T. Alibert
Referee: A. Moore
Reserve Referee: M. Roca
Touch Judge 1: M. Lynn
Touch Judge 2: N. Horton
In Goal: F. Gely
In Goal 2: A. Cau
Time Keeper: P. Jenkins
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Salford have had a lot of drama on and off the pitch over the past few months, and last week before their Super League clash with Wigan Warriors, it was reported that two players would refuse to play at the Brick Community Stadium.
The two players were eventually announced as Chris Atkin and club captain Kallum Watkins, so you would have thought they never would put the Red Devils jersey again.
But both players have been picked for the trip over to Catalans this weekend. Paul Rowley confirmed such news in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, while he also announced that a number of players would be returning from injury for the Cup clash in Perpignan.
Deon Cross, Jayden Nikorima and Chris Hankinson are all included in the fold after overcoming issues, while Joe Mellor has been deemed fit enough to make the cut, too. Justin Sangare and Joe Bullock are out of the squad due to injury despite playing with the pain to help the squad in the past.
Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara has made just one change to his squad, that lost to St Helens last Saturday night. Tariq Sims is the man to come in and he replaces Jordan Dezaria.
Both sides have had some issues on the pitch this season and have both played lower league opposition twice to get to this point.
Catalans got past Halifax Panthers away and Featherstone Rovers in Perpignan to get the chance to host the Red Devils and Salford beat Midland Hurricanes and Bradford Bulls respectively.
I cannot see this Salford side getting the team chemistry right enough to get through to the semis of the competition they nearly won 5 years ago.
I am predicting Catalans will make their first Challenge Cup Semi Final since they won the whole thing in 2018.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Catalans Dragons by 30 points.
