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2018 Super League – Catalans Dragons vs Warrington Wolves Preview
AT A GLANCE
When? Saturday 17th March, 17:00 (UK)
Where? Stade Gilbert Brutus
What channel is it on? Sky Sports Action
Where can I stream the match? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go
Are tickets still available? https://www.dragons-billetteri...
THE STATISTICS
THE LOWDOWN
CATALANS DRAGONS
Head Coach: Steve McNamara
Squad: Aiton, Albert, Anderson, Bird, Bousquet, Casty, Duport, Garcia, Gigot, Jullien, Margalet, McIllorum, Mead, Moa, Simon, Tierney, Thornley, Wiliame, Yaha
Unavailable: Samisoni Langi, Jodie Broughton, Luke Walsh, Jason Baitieri
- Catalans potentially saved the job of head coach Steve McNamara – at least for the time being – as they won their first game of the season at the fifth attempt, defeating Hull KR 18-16 in a low-quality game last weekend.
- McNamara is forced into making one change to his 19-man squad with Jason Baitieri picking up a suspension for dangerous contact in the Hull KR games. Vincent Duport replaces Baitieri in the squad.
- Catalans’ profligate attack must improve if they are to climb up the table. The Dragons have scored just 60 points in their first five games, an average of just 12 per game which is the lowest in the league.
WARRINGTON WOLVES
Head Coach: Steve Price
Squad: Akauola, K. Brown, M. Brown, Clark, Cooper, Crosby, Goodwin, Hill, Hughes, G. King, T. King, Lineham, Livett, Murdoch-Masila, Philbin, Ratchford, Roberts, Smith, Westwood
Unavailable: Matty Russell, Ben Currie, Declan Patton, Ryan Atkins
- Warrington were outclassed by St Helens in the second half of last week’s game. The Wolves trailed by just two points at half-time but fell to a comprehensive display as Saints won 12-30.
- Steve Price is able to recall Sitaleki Akauola following the completion of his one-match ban. He takes the place of Ryan Atkins who misses out with an abductor strain.
- Warrington have won just two of their six games this season and need a win here to try and keep pace with the top 4. A defeat against bottom-of-the-table Dragons will cause fears that Warrington could be condemned to a second successive season in the Middle 8s.
THE PREDICTION
Catalans finally got their first win of the season last week and will be hoping to win back-to-back games as they host Warrington this week. The Wolves are coming into this game off the back of an energy-sapping defeat at home to St Helens but will look to bounce back against a team that have struggled to score points so far this season. However, Warrington have only scored 0.7 points per game on average more than their opponents so this could be a low scoring affair but the Wolves should have enough to claim the win.
