Catalans and Castleford welcome back key forwards ahead of Super League clash

Josh McAllister
Dylan Napa Catalans Dragons

Catalans and Castleford have both welcomed back key forwards to their respective squads ahead of their clash on Friday. 

Castleford head coach Lee Radford has named a 21-man squad with both George Lawler and Daniel Smith returning. The pair missed their trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium last Sunday.

The Tigers are currently in fifth place in the Super League table with the play-off race heating up. It is the third time they will face the Dragons this season with a scored tied at 1-1.

Liam Watts misses out having been handed a two-match suspension following the defeat to St Helens. He will also miss the club’s trip to Huddersfield next Thursday. Cheyse Blair also misses out due to a head knock picked up in the first half against Kristian Woolf’s side.

Winger Sosaia Feki keeps his spot having played his first game for Castleford in 693 days in their 20-12 defeat at St Helens.

Trio return for Catalans

Forwards Dylan Napa and Joe Chan both return for Steve McNamara for the trip to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Friday. Meanwhile, France international Mathieu Laguerre has also been named.

Tiaki Chan misses out due to a two-match suspension for a Grade C dangerous throw charge against Wakefield.

Fouad Yaha, Gil Dudson, Benjamin Garcia, Julian Bousquet, Matt Whitley, Mike McMeeken, Mickael Goudemand, Arthur Romano and Jordan Dezaria all miss out.

Castleford: Olpherts, Faraimo, Richardson, McShane, Lawler, Edwards, Milner, Westerman, Griffin, Fonua, Sutcliffe, Smith, Eden, Matagi, Martin, Hall, Feki, O’Brien, Robb, Qareqare, Mellor.

Catalans: Mourgue, Davies, Langi, Whare, Pearce, Drinkwater, McIlorum, Da Costa, Jullien, Seguier, Laguerre, May, Le Cam, Napa, Cozza, Rouge, Franco, J.Chan, Kasiano, Tomkins.

PODCAST: Alex Walmsley on turning down NRL, World Cup pressure & John Kear influence