Catalans Dragons host Hull FC in Perpignan on Friday night, with both sides picking up injuries during their Challenge Cup wins.
Catalans head coach Steve McNamara will have to have a bit of a reshuffle in the backline with Sam Tomkins picking up a hamstring injury during that 14-0 win over Halifax.
They will also be without Theo Fages after he fractured his ribs in training before their Cup game and it’s thought he’ll be out for around a month.
For Hull FC, they also picked up an injury in their 52-6 win over York Acorn, with new signing Oliver Holmes picking up a knock.
He’s sidelined along with Ed Chamberlain, Jack Charles, Matty Laidlaw and Davy Litten, who looks set to return in the next few weeks.
Judging by the 21-man squads and the injury news, here’s how we think the Catalans Dragons and Hull FC will line up on Friday night.
Predicted Catalans Dragons team
Catalans XIII: Arthur Mourgue, Tommy Makinson, Arthur Romano, Nick Cotric, Fouad Yaha, Luke Keary, Cesar Rouge, Tevita Pangai, Benjamin Garcia, Julian Bousquet, Tariq Sims, Elliott Whitehead, Oliver Partington.
Interchanges: Alrix Da Costa, Chris Satae, Romain Navarrete, Bayley Sironen.
With all but two of their starting 17 available, it makes sense that they would stick to it as closely as they can.
With both Mourgue and Rouge able to deputise at fullback for the injured Tomkins, Mourgue is the tried-and-tested option, having spent most of the last couple of seasons there.
Despite no Reimis Smith, we think McNamara will stick with Cotric and Yaha as a centre/winger duo, rather than bring in Clement Martin to replace either of them.
The Keary and Rouge combination in the halves will need the Australian to step up on debut to support his less-experienced partner in Rouge.
The front six is their eight to 13 in terms of squad numbers because why change it?
This pack should be challenging the best in the league and with support from Da Costa, Satae, Navarrete and Sironen on the bench, Hull FC’s forwards will have to be up for the physicality battle.
Predicted Hull FC team
Hull FC XIII: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Jordan Rapana, Zak Hardaker, Lewis Martin, Cade Cust, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Ligi Sao, Jed Cartwright, Jordan Lane, John Asiata.
Interchanges: Yusuf Aydin, Jack Ashworth, Brad Fash, Denive Balmforth.
Despite Rapana having the number one shirt, we think Logan Moy will get the nod at fullback over him this week.
That’s because Rapana is needed more in the centres to support a younger winger.
We’ve picked Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron over Tom Briscoe as wingers because each deserved a starting spot following excellent Challenge Cup performances.
Cust and Sezer look set to be the halfback pairing for the time being unless the Black and Whites can find a replacement for Jordan Abdull.
Again, their eight to 13 speaks for itself, with new recruits Bourouh and Asiata giving them much-needed handling skills.
We think adding Balmforth to the bench gives Hull FC an extra option at hooker and in the halves should they need to switch things up.
The game can be seen on Sky Sports+ from 8pm on Friday.
Ready and set to kick off our 2025 Betfred Super League campaign tomorrow ✅🇫🇷
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— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) February 13, 2025
