Castleford v Catalans: Predicted line-ups and late injury news

The table topping Dragons take on Castleford tonight in one of the biggest games of the weekend. The Tigers are headed to Wembley so certainly have considerable quality and will fancy their chances against a Catalans side without some of their big hitters.

It’s not all good news for Castleford however. They’re of course without star Jake Trueman through injury and halfback partner Gareth O’Brien. With Paul McShane named in the England squad, it leaves Daryl Powell with a puzzle to solve at stand-off. The answer very well could be Jordan Turner but that would leave holes in the backs especially with Peter Mata’utia set to feature for the Combined Nations alongside fellow Tiger Suaia Matagi.

The Dragons have lost duo Sam Tomkins and Tom Davies to this Friday’s international and the pair have been in stunning form for the brilliant Dragons this year. However, the Dragons appear to have quality replacements in the mercurial Arthur Mourgue and Matthieu Laguerre. The French side are also missing Michael McIlorum and skipper Benjamin Garcia but the return of Alrix Da Costa and Matt Whitley from injury could lessen that blow.

Castleford
1 Niall Evalds
2 Derrell Olpherts
20 James Clare
4 Michael Shenton
33 Jason Qareqare
25 Jordan Turner
7 Danny Richardson
14 Nathan Massey
18 Jacques O’Neill
15 George Griffin
11 Oliver Holmes
17 Alex Foster
13 Adam Milner
Substitutes
8 Liam Watts
22 Daniel Smith
27 Lewis Peachey
28 Brad Martin

Catalans
1 Arthur Mourgue
20 Matthieu Laguerre
4 Dean Whare
3 Samisoni Langi
5 Fouad Yaha
6 James Maloney
7 Josh Drinkwater
8 Gil Dudson
14 Alrix Da Costa
10 Julian Bousquet
12 Mike McMeeken
15 Benjamin Jullien
24 Jason Baitieri
Substitutes
11 Matt Whitley
16 Paul Seguier
17 Mickael Goudemand
27 Joe Chan