SL Preview: Catalans v St Helens
Todd Carney returns to the Catalans squad after recovering from the injury which saw him miss the defeat to Castleford.
Co-captain Gregory Mounis also returns to strengthen the back row, with impressive prop Gadwin Springer and young winger Mathias Pala dropping out.
Saints receive a huge boost with the return of hooker James Roby, the only change made by coach Keiron Cunningham.
Prediction: Saints are not the best away from home, and Catalans are always strong in Perpignan. The Dragons will win a tight contest by two points.
Catalans (19-man squad): Escare, Tonga, Oldfield, Carney, Dureau, Elima, Henderson, Casty, Taia, Anderson, Mounis, Bosc, Pelissier, Whitehead, Garcia, Cardace, Bousquet, Baitieri, Yaha.
St Helens (19-man squad): Makinson, Turner, Jones, Swift, Burns, Walsh, Masoe, Roby, Amor, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Walmsley, Flanagan, Percival, Thompson, Richards, Savelio, Fleming, McDonnell.
Stats:
Jon Wilkin needs three tries to reach a career century of touchdowns. His total of 97 has been scored as follows: eight for Hull KR (2000-2002), 88 for St Helens (2003-2015) and one for England (2004-2005, 2008-2009 & 2011-2012). Wilkin also made six non-scoring appearances for Great Britain (2006-2007).
Tommy Makinson needs 20 points to reach 500 for St Helens. Makinson’s total of 480 has been reached with 77 tries and 86 goals in 116 games for Saints since 2011.
Paul Wellens is one try away from 200 (199 for St Helens, 1998-2015).
Catalans Dragons’ Zeb Taia has the longest run of consecutive appearances amongst Super League players, with 47. Taia last missed a Dragons game on 30 August, 2013 – a 20-12 defeat against Leeds at Headingley. His streak then started on 7 September, 2013 – a 14-12 defeat against Warrington at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Super League Summary:
Catalans Dragons won eight
St Helens won 13 (includes win in 2014 play-offs)
Catalans Dragons highest score: 42-0 (H, 2014) (also widest margin)
St Helens highest score: 53-10 (H, 2007) (also widest margin)
Last 10 Meetings:
St Helens 18, Catalans Dragons 7 (SLR1, 6/2/15)
St Helens 30, Catalans Dragons 12 (SLQSF, 2/10/14)
Catalans Dragons 42, St Helens 0 (SLR16, 14/6/14)
St Helens 40, Catalans Dragons 22 (SLR5, 14/3/14)
Catalans Dragons 6, St Helens 26 (SLR23, 3/8/13)
St Helens 12, Catalans Dragons 22 (SLR12, 12/4/13)
Catalans Dragons 15, St Helens 20 (SLR21, 20/7/12)
St Helens 32, Catalans Dragons 34 (SLR4, 24/2/12)
St Helens 40, Catalans Dragons 18 (SLR22, 15/7/11)
Catalans Dragons 16, St Helens 22 (SLR4, 5/3/11)