Catalans Dragons vs Hull KR: Team news, match preview and score prediction

Whenever Catalans and Hull KR met last season, there were always fireworks. Their season opener, their battle at the Stade Gilbert Brutus and their semi-final clash were all fantastic, so expect more of the same tomorrow night.

After questions were thrown the way of Catalans in the first two rounds, the Dragons have looked solid defeating three of the biggest teams in the league despite a number of high-profile absentees.

As for Hull KR, we’ve at times seen glimpses of the Robins side who were so good and so successful in 2021 but only in fits and starts losing three of their opening five games.

Team News

The Dragons have lost Jordan Dezaria to suspension but at least have Dylan Napa back from a ban as a like for like replacement. Meanwhile, Fouad Yaha and Sam Kasiano are both set to figure having missed the win against Wigan.

As for Hull KR, they’re still without Lachlan Coote and have lost Dean Hadley and Kane Linnett following their win at Salford last week.

Match Preview – Key Battles:

Tom Davies vs Ryan Hall: Two wingers with World Cup hopes will do battle down Catalans’ right and Hull KR’s left. Tom Davies was the league’s accumulative top try scorer over 2020 and 2021 and is the perfect winger in terms of nailing the basics like kick returns. But up against arguably Super League’s greatest winger in the shape of Ryan Hall, he’ll have his work cut out for him.

Josh Drinkwater vs Jordan Abdull: Arguably the best two sevens in last season’s Super League campaign, the two made creating tries look easy. We saw the value of Drinkwater last week when his short range kicking game killed Wigan. As for Abdull, he suits Hull KR’s style of play to a tee and will ask questions of Catalans’ defence.

Ben Garcia vs Elliot Minchella: Two leaders of the pack with a little bit of everything to their game at loose-forward. The two will hope to inspire their team to victory by gaining dominance over the middle of the field.

Where the game will be won and lost:

Again and again last season, despite being behind the eight-ball in the middle of the field, Hull KR ran Catalans all the way due to their superb attack. Of course, limiting Catalans’ brilliant pack will help Hull KR but both sides’ attacking prowess will be the key to victory in this game. The side with the best strike rate in this game will likely win.

Score prediction: Catalans Dragons 22-14 Hull KR