Catalans v St Helens: Predicted line-ups and late injury news

After seven months of toil, triumphs and tribulations, the Grand Final is upon us but this year’s story is a much longer yarn than a few months in 2021.

Its origins can be traced back to the dawn of Super League in 1996. St Helens, a team already steeped in history but living in Wigan’s shadow, finally ended their rivals’ monopoly over the league with a historic double as they began a two and half decade long domination of summer rugby.

1996 and Super League’s inception also promised expansion into Europe. But the failed venture of Paris Saint-Germain left those dreams dormant until 2006 and the arrival of Catalans Dragons. 15 years later, they’re set to play in a first Grand Final having already won the Challenge Cup in 2018 and the League Leaders’ Shield this year. Can they make good on the promises of expansion and finally end the Saints-Leeds-Wigan occupation of Grand Final glory?

But who will Steve McNamara trust in this historic mission? The first name that springs to mind is Sam Tomkins. The newly crowned Man of Steel has been exceptional this year and is well versed in Grand Finals. He’s also never lost at the Theatre of Dreams but is he fit? The smart money says he will be meaning livewire Arthur Mourgue will drop to the bench perhaps to provide a Rob Burrow like impact. His move to the bench means one of the Dragons forwards will miss out and unfortunately, it’ll most likely be fellow French youngster Joe Chan as McNamara relies on the impact Sam Kasiano and Gil Dudson. The rest of the line-up will remain unchanged with their superb outside backs offering power and pace, the pack providing size and experience whilst the mercurial pair at stand-off and scrum-half could prove the difference.

As for St Helens, they have no such sweating to do where injuries and absentees are concerned. Jack Welsby has declared himself fit for the final after a scare against Leeds last week. Could he again be the Grand Final hero? The other question for Kristian Woolf is whether he brings in the experienced Joel Thompson for one final runout before retirement. His return to the 17 would likely mean the in-form Joe Batchelor or one of Woolf’s impactful interchange forwards miss out. Thus, I feel Woolf will elect to trust those we saw devastate the Rhinos from the bench last week.

Catalans
29 Sam Tomkins
2 Tom Davies
4 Dean Whare
3 Samisoni Langi
5 Fouad Yaha
6 James Maloney
7 Josh Drinkwater
22 Joel Tomkins
9 Michael McIlorum
10 Julian Bousquet
11 Matt Whitley
12 Mike McMeeken
13 Benjamin Garcia
Substitutes
1 Arthur Mourgue
8 Gil Dudson
17 Mickael Goudemand
28 Sam Kasiano

St Helens
1 Lachlan Coote
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
4 Mark Percival
5 Regan Grace
6 Jonny Lomax
21 Lewis Dodd
8 Alex Walmsley
9 James Roby
10 Matty Lees
14 Sione Mata’utia
20 Joe Batchelor
13 Morgan Knowles
Substitutes
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
16 Kyle Amor
17 Agnatius Paasi
18 Jack Welsby