Catalans Dragons v Saints - Preview

The chance to secure the League Leaders Shield came and went last week, but Saints can make it all but a mathematical certainty with victory over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday (September 8, kick-off 5.30pm UK Time).

It’s five weeks since the Dragons wrecked Saints Challenge Cup dreams in that semi-final drubbing at Bolton. Since then Saints have one only once as their lead at the top of the Super League table has been cut to just four points following Wigan’s win over Wakefield Trinity on Thursday (September 6). Another slip here would give Wigan more encouragement than they need to make the battle for top spot a genuine contest.

Saints coach Justin Holbrook is already without Alex Walmsley and Dominique Peyroux and must now also do without Ryan Morgan. The Australian centre picked up yet another head knock early in last week’s 30-10 defeat at home by Wigan, though fortunately it is thought not to be related to the previous problems he had been having with concussion which kept him out for three weeks prior to the derby. With Adam Swift also out and facing shoulder surgery the option of moving Tommy Makinson inside from the wing into Morgan’s centre position seems off the table so Matty Costello is likely to deputise. It’s a big test for Costello but seems a more logical fix than the make-do-and-mend that was shoving Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook into the centres last time out. The decision not to have a back on the bench against Wigan bit Saints hard so expect Theo Fages to make the 17 this time just to give Saints that bit more flexibility should they need a reshuffle. Besides, there is just the merest whisper that James Roby may miss out with a shoulder problem in which case Fages may even find himself starting in the hooking role. Aaron Smith has been added to the 19-man squad in place of Morgan and may spell Fages off the bench, while Morgan Knowles may also come into Holbrook's thinking if he is looking to fill the number nine role by committee.

The rest of the Saints side picks itself, even the much maligned Ben Barba at fullback. I guarantee you that at some point between now and Old Trafford Barba will fire back into life and everyone who has been telling him to go home will want to find ways in which they can be impregnated by him. His defensive effort left much to be desired last week but there was plenty in attack to suggest that the miracles will return soon. Makinson was brilliant on the wing last week and he should help Costello defensively, while Mark Percival and Regan Grace will continue their bid to have the same thought at the same time during a rugby league game on the other side of the attack.

The halfback combination should remain unbroken although Danny Richardson has been having plenty of struggles as the Saints pack has been outplayed in recent weeks. The young half needs to make better decisions in what is a testing time for him following a first half of the season in which he and his forward pack were dominant. Beside him Jonny Lomax has been brilliant for the most part in 2018 but was elusive without really going anywhere against Wigan. There is still much to work on for the pair going into this one and the sharp end of the season where pots are won and lost.

With Walmsley out it is comforting to have Luke Thompson back in situ and if Costello comes in that should give McCarthy-Scarsbrook the opportunity to move back towards the middle where he is far more effective. If Roby does miss out that will be an incalculable loss to Saints in the pack, so the wearying Zeb Taia and the retiring Jon Wilkin will have to step it up along with Knowles. Kyle Amor, Matty Lees, Jack Ashworth and Luke Douglas will all also look for game time in the trenches.

Which is exactly where Catalans won the battle last time these teams met at the University Of Bolton Stadium. Dragons coach Steve McNamara implemented a safety-first game plan allied to some thundering physicality and there is no reason to believe he will do anything else this time around. The Dragons celebrated their cup win hard enough to lose 36-4 to Castleford Tigers last time out but should be rather more focused in the build-up this week. Their chances of making the top four never really existed but they will want to keep on impressing following their Wembley heroics.

Greg Bird’s presence will boost them while in David Mead, Tony Gigot and Josh Drinkwater they have match winners despite the absences of Jodie Broughton and Fouad Yaha. Up front Remi Casty, Mickey McIlorum, Jason Baitieri and Julian Bousquet will all give Saints plenty to think about along with the controversial Kenny Edwards who failed to ingratiate himself with the Saints fans in the cup meeting.

The possibility of Roby missing this one is fairly haunting. With the best will in the world I just can’t see how a misfiring Saints team can go to the south of France against a still buoyant Dragons outfit and win without their talisman. For all of Barba’s spectacular brilliance it is the nuts and bolts of what Roby does which gets Saints on top most weeks. If I am wrong and Barba’s form does not return the absence of Roby for any length of time could kill Saints season stone dead like a stint on Celebrity Big Brother can kill a career.

But let’s stay optimistic and suppose Roby does play, and that Barba finds that extra half yard of pace that has been missing from his game recently. In that scenario Saints could be too much for a Dragons side which could, if it finds itself up against it in the early going, have its collective consciousness turn to the beach. Roby and Barba are not the only players who matter for Saints but they do tend to make everyone else better. If they fire then Saints should get home by around eight points. If not, well….you know…?

Squads;

Catalans Dragons;

1. David Mead, 4. Brayden Wiliame, 6. Samisoni Langi, 8. Rémi Casty, 10. Sam Moa, 13. Greg Bird, 14. Julian Bousquet, 15. Mikael Simon, 16. Vincent Duport, 17. Jason Baitieri, 19. Michael McIlorum, 20. Lewis Tierney, 21. Benjamin Jullien, 22. Lucas Albert, 24. Alrix Da Costa, 31. Tony Gigot, 32. Mickael Goudemand, 33. Josh Drinkwater, 34. Kenny Edwards.

St Helens;

1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 4. Mark Percival, 6. Theo Fages, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 15. Morgan Knowles, 16. Luke Thompson, 18. Danny Richardson, 19. Regan Grace, 20. Matty Lees, 21. Jack Ashworth, 23. Ben Barba, 25. Aaron Smith, 30. Matty Costello.

Referee: Liam Moore