Wakefield Trinity host Catalans Dragons at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
Wakefield Trinity
Trinity coach Chris Chester has made two changes to the side that lost 25-10 to Wigan Warriors last week.
Prop Anthony England and full-back Max Jowitt, who were rotated against the Warriors, both return to the squad in place of Chris Annakin and Ben Jones-Bishop.
Wakefield 19-man squad: Tinirau Arona, Joe Arundel, Matty Ashurst, James Batchelor, Jordan Crowther, Anthony England, Scott Grix, Ryan Hampshire, Keegan Hirst, Justin Horo, Craig Huby, Tom Johnstone, Max Jowitt, Reece Lyne, Jacob Miller, Pauli Pauli, Tyler Randell, Bill Tupou, Kyle Wood.
Catalans Dragons
Catalans suffered a double injury blow in the defeat to St Helens last time out, with stand-off Samisoni Langi sidelined through injury before Julian Bousquet split his nose in a head-to-head collision.
The pair are two of four to drop out for the Dragons this week, with Michael McIlorum and Remi Casty also absent. Benjamin Garcia, Ugo Perez, Thibaut Margalet and Lambert Belmas all come in.
Catalans 19-man squad: David Mead, Iain Thornley, Brayden Williame, Sam Moa, Benjamin Garcia, Greg Bird, Mickael Simon, Jason Baitieri, Thibaut Margalet, Lewis Tierney, Benjamin Jullien, Lucas Albert, Alrix da Costa, Lambert Belmas, Ugo Perez, Tony Gigot, Mickael Goudemand, Josh Drinkwater, Kenny Edwards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Both sides have each claimed a win in the two meetings in 2018. Trinity edged out a 16-14 victory over Catalans in February, before Catalans won 35-18 in July.
Over the last two seasons, Wakefield have won four of six meetings against their French counterparts, but go back further and Catalans have the better record, with three victories to Trinity’s one.
KEY BATTLE – Tom Johnstone vs Lewis Tierney
Catalans winger Lewis Tierney will have a crucial role in stopping this season’s second-highest try scorer Tom Johnstone.
The Trinity wide man has 21 tries for the season, including five in his last five outings, and former Wigan man Tierney will be expected to defend solidly if the Dragons are to keep the 23-year-old out.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 14th September
Venue: Mobile Rocket Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
