2020 Super League – Catalans Dragons vs Leeds Rhinos Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Catalans Dragons vs Leeds Rhinos taking place? Friday 13th November, 2020 – 19:45 (UK)
Where is Catalans Dragons vs Leeds Rhinos taking place? Halliwell Jones Stadium
What is the expected weather for Catalans Dragons vs Leeds Rhinos? 8c, mostly cloudy
What channel is Catalans Dragons vs Leeds Rhinos on? Sky Sports Arena
Where can I stream Catalans Dragons vs Leeds Rhinos? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via the Sky Go app
Where can I get tickets for Catalans Dragons vs Leeds Rhinos? This match will be played behind closed doors
What was the outcome in the last meeting? Leeds Rhinos 6-34 Catalans Dragons
THE TEAM NEWS
CATALANS DRAGONS
- Catalans Dragons were unable to take a winning streak into the play-offs as they were on the end of a heavy loss against Salford Red Devils in their last outing and they will need to make big improvements on that effort.
- The Dragons were leading by 12 points at the break in that clash with the Red Devils but allowed 36 unanswered points before they notched a late consolation as the game was turned on its head.
- Despite that defeat, Steve McNamara’s side will come into the play-offs with a belief that they can win the competition, especially as their side is almost at full-strength with Benjamin Jullien and Lewis Tierney the only two missing from the 21-man squad.
21-man squad: Baitieri, Bousquet, Casty, Davies, Drinkwater, Folau, Garcia, Goudemand, Kasiano, Langi, Maloney, McIlorum, Mead, Moa, Mourgue, Seguier, Simon, J. Tomkins, S. Tomkins, Whitley, Yaha
Unavailable: Lewis Tierney, Benjamin Jullien
Questionable:
LEEDS RHINOS
- Leeds Rhinos bounced back from their shock loss to Wakefield Trinity by overcoming the same opponents in their final game of the regular season before it was ended prematurely ahead of the expanded play-offs.
- Along with Hull FC, Leeds were the other beneficiary of the decision to add a further two teams to the play-off series and they will hope they can add to the Challenge Cup that they won earlier in the campaign.
- Their first task will be to overcome Catalans Dragons but they will be without head coach Richard Agar who is having to self-isolate whilst the Rhinos will be unable to call upon the services of Alex Mellor who will serve the first of two-match ban.
21-man squad: T. Briscoe, Donaldson, Dwyer, Evans, Ferres, Gale, Handley, Harrison, Hurrell, Leeming, Lui, Martin, Myler, Oledzki, Prior, Seumanufagai, Smith, A. Sutcliffe, L. Sutcliffe, Thompson, Walker
Unavailable: Dom Crosby, Stevie Ward, Harry Newman, Adam Cuthbertson, Tom Holroyd, Alex Mellor
Questionable:
THE PREDICTION
Catalans Dragons could be considered the dark horse of this Super League play-off series with their squad boasting the talent to win the competition but they must find some consistency if they are to do so, something they have struggled with once again this season. They only managed to play 13 league games for one reason or another and despite winning eight of those, there is a feeling that they could have won more. They now take on Challenge Cup winners Leeds Rhinos in their first contest of the play-offs in a game that could go either way. There is little to split the two teams but with Leeds struggling since that success at Wembley, it is the French outfit that can do enough to progress in this one.
