With Warrington hot on their heels, can the Saints win yet another game to keep their unbeaten going to 9 matches or will Catalans spoil their party? Here’s everything you need to know.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Catalans Dragons
Catalans have had a mixed set of results recently, with the latest a 42-0 loss away at the hands of Wigan. Before that, they had won their previous two fixtures, beating Leeds at home and Hull Kingston Rovers away.
The Dragons will be looking to get straight back to winning ways, although they’ll have a mammoth task against the current League Leaders, St Helens.
St Helens
There isn’t a bad word that can be said about the Saints at the moment. Justin Holbrook has continued to do a fantastic job with the Red V, picking up where they left off in 2018, before their semi-final disappointment against Warrington.
With eight wins from eight, it has stood the side from Merseyside in good stead to continue the season in the same form.
SQUAD NEWS
Catalans Dragons
Just the one change this week for Steve McNamara’s Dragons. Former Wire second rower Benjamin Jullien comes back in to the fold and replaces Kenny Edwards. If played, he will make his 100th career appearance.
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Catalans 19-man squad: Gigot, Williame, Tierney, Langi, Smith, Casty, Moa, Bird, Bousquet, Jullien, Whitley, DA Costa, Goudemand, Albert, Baitieri, Romano, Yaha, Kasiano, Tomkins.
St Helens
Making a return to the St Helens squad is 2018 starlet, Danny Richardson, who has yet to feature for the club this year. After a loan spell with Leigh, Richardson comes back to the Saints side to take Theo Fages’ place, due to injury.
Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook sits this one out as his partner is due to give birth.
St Helens 19-man squad: Lomax, Makinson, Naiquma, Percival, Grace, Richardson, Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Paulo, Knowles, Amor, Peyroux, Lees, Ashworth, Smith, Coote, Welsby.
HEAD TO HEAD
The first match that comes to mind immediately is Catalans win in the 2018 Challenge Cup semi-final, which resulted in them going on to lift the trophy at Wembley, the first trophy in the club’s history.
When it comes to the league, especially at the Totally Wicked Stadium, it has been domination from the Saints. Over in France, it has been similar, with St Helens taking the majority of the points.
Catalans last win at the Stade Gilbert Brutus against St Helens was July 2016, when the Dragons won 33-16, with Jodie Broughton scoring twice.
KEY BATTLE
Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons) v Lachlan Coote (St Helens)
We all know exactly what Tomkins offers from his time at Wigan, such a good number 1 in any side. He is a leader but his skills, especially his ball handling, are excellent and he scores plenty of tries. We haven’t been treated to much yet with the Dragons and it’s take them a while to get going. If he can play to his full potential, then he could certainly threaten the Saints.
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It was never going to be easy for Lachlan Coote to step in and fill the shoes of Ben Barba stepped out of. Coote offers a much different fullback game to Barba though. Coote is more direct and knows where he wants to go. With Barba’s amount of unpredictability he showed, Coote is a more reliable figure. He just makes his way to the try line, assisting a lot more than scoring.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 6th April
Venue: Stade Gilbert Brutus
Kick-off: 5pm UK
Referee: Robert Hicks
WHO WILL WIN?
Unless Catalans can use their power they can possess at home, this will be a step too far for McNamara’s side and Saints will comfortably win by 14 or more points.ย
