SL Preview: Catalans v Castleford

Correspondent

All eyes will be on Catalans on Saturday afternoon, where troubled former NRL superstar Todd Carney is expected to make his Super League debut.

Should he play, he will make a huge difference to the Dragons, who, when Thomas Bosc went off injured, lacked direction against St Helens.

Carney could partner Scott Dureau in the halves, with the Australian scrum-half returning to duty, along with Antoni Maria.

Props Remi Casty and Julian Bousquet are both absent with injuries, however.

For Castleford, new signing Ben Roberts could make his debut, after being included in the 19-man squad. He is keen to get into action.

“After a disappointing result last week I’m hoping to make my Super League debut this Saturday,” he said.

“We know Catalan will give us a tough challenge but our boys have knuckled down hard this week and we are up for it.”

Castleford opened their campaign with a disappointing loss to neighbours Wakefield Wildcats, and will be hoping to find some form in France.

Catalans Dragons (19-man squad):

Escaré, Duport, Pomeroy, Tonga, Oldfield, Carney, Dureau, Elima,Henderson, Taia, Anderson, Mounis, Bosc, Lima, Pelissier, Whitehead, Garcia, Maria, Baitieri.

Castleford Tigers:

Boyle, Clare, Carney, Channing, Crossley, Finn, Gale, Holmes, Lynch, Massey, Millington, Moore, Moors, Roberts, Shenton, Solomona, Tansey, Webster, Wheeldon.

Stats:

Catalans Dragons have won their last four home meetings with Castleford, with the Tigers’ last away win against the Dragons coming 20-16 on 13 March, 2010. Catalans’ Morgan Escare has scored tries in the Dragons’ last three meetings with Castleford (1-1-2).

Super League Summary:

Catalans Dragons won 10

Castleford won 7

1 draw

Catalans Dragons highest score: 54-20 (H, 2011) (Widest margin: 51-14, H, 2006)

Castleford highest score: 34-28 (H, 2006); 34-18 (MM, 2010); 34-24 (H, 2011) (Widest margin: 32-6, H, 2014)

Last Ten Meetings:

Catalans Dragons 28, Castleford 6 (SLR27, 13/9/14)
Castleford 32, Catalans Dragons 6 (SLR2, 23/2/14)
Catalans Dragons 39, Castleford 30 (SLR15, 18/5/13)
Castleford 17, Catalans Dragons 17 (SLR4, 24/2/13)
Castleford 26, Catalans Dragons 46 (SLR26, 2/9/12)
Catalans Dragons 28, Castleford 20 (SLR3, 18/2/12)
Catalans Dragons 54, Castleford 20 (SLR19, 25/6/11)
Castleford 34, Catalans Dragons 24 (SLR5, 12/3/11)
Castleford 24, Catalans Dragons 20 (SLR17, 15/6/10)
Castleford 34, Catalans Dragons 18 (SLR13, 2/5/10)
(at Murrayfield, Edinburgh)