This weekend the Super League action includes Catalans Dragons v Warrington Wolves, and while Catalans Dragons are a strong team, Warrington are coming off the back of three for three games and on paper are the favourite team for the tipsters freetips.com.
Steve Price will be doing his best to ensure that his team can romp to victory and as they head to Perpignan, there are some changes to the squad. Harvey Livett will not play but instead will be replaced by Ben Westwood; this will be the second outing for the back row veteran who has not been seen since the opening weekend.
The Warrington Wolves Line Up:
Atkins, Austin, Charnley, Clark, Clark, Cooper, Goodwin, Hill, Hughes, King, Lineham, Mamo, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Tasi, Walker, Westwood
In the Catalan camp we see a return to play for three of the squad in the form of halfback Lucas Albert, Julian Bousquet a prop and returning winger Fouad Yaha who has returned from his rugby union adventures. Out on the bench injured are Jodie Broughton, Ben Garcia, Greg Bird (forwards) and David Mead. This many changes could put the team on the back foot before they even begin. In 2018 the team won their first Challenge Cup against Warrington at Wembley, and this victory will be firmly etched in their minds every time the teams clash.
During the match at Wembley, which actually drew the lowest crowd since WW2, with just 50,672 fans they snatched victory with a score of 20-14 and became the first team from outside of England to take the trophy. Garcia played that match, the 122nd time the cup had been contested, scoring a try, so will be disappointed that he cannot play this time. One of the other try scorers Tierney will, however, be present and will be doing his best to help the team to victory once more.
The Catalan Dragons Line Up:
Gigot, Wiliame, Tierney, Langi, Smith, Casty, McIlorum, Moa, Edwards, Bousquet, Simon, Jullien, Whitley, Goudemand, Albert, Maria, Baitieri, Yaha, Tomkins
Here are some predictions from some of our favourite pundits and as you can see the general feeling is that Warrington is going to nail this one.
Ex-FC and KR player, Doncaster Knights coach Paul Cooke
Warrington win: Catalan at home is a tough nut to crack. But Warrington is 3 from 3, beginning to form a good understanding between their new recruits. Away win for us.
Richard Stead – BBC Radio Humberside commentator
Warrington Wolves have looked second only to Castleford in terms of performance at the start of the season in my opinion. I think the Dragons will be much better than they were at Wakefield, but Wire should still be too strong.
New Hull FC reporter Will Jackson
Warrington win: The hardest game to predict this weekend in our view. Catalans don’t often lose at home, but I think Warrington might just have too much about them in Perpignan.
