The third full round of Super League matches in the new season gets underway on Thursday evening when two sides who will be looking to improve on the previous campaign do battle when the Wakefield Trinity host the Challenge Cup holders Catalans Dragons.
The home side are yet to claim a point this season while the visitors will be looking to build on a fine win over the Huddersfield Giants last time out and put themselves in among the early pacesetters in the table.
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Wakefield Trinity
I get the feeling this is a big match for the Yorkshire outfit. While they only need to finish second from bottom to avoid relegation this season, their ambitions will surely be much more than that, and if they are going to justify those plans then they are going to need to come away with the two points here, to launch their season and give them confidence as much as anything else.
The big issue for Trinity has been their defence. Nobody conceded more than them in the first two rounds of the competition and it wasn’t as though they played two elite opponents either. While St Helens were tough, London Broncos putting 40+ points up on them must raise a few eyebrows. They are generally good at home though so all hope is not lost for them yet by any means.
Catalans Dragons
The French outfit must have thought their campaign began a week later than everyone else because they completely failed to show up in their first match against the Castleford Tigers but they bounced back strongly to see off the Huddersfield Giants last time out and have had another fortnight working together to build relationships on and off the field, after a fair bit of turnover in players in the close season.
This is also a big match for the Dragons I feel. They should be ready to launch a serious challenge on the Super League crown, but the only way they are going to achieve that is by improving their form on the road. We know they have the talent, but do they have it in them to roll their sleeves up and dig in on the road. If they do they have every chance of making this a big season.
Team News
Wakefield Trinity will be without key forwards Danny Kirmond and Craig Huby who have been ruled out with injuries. They have been replaced by James Batchelor and Keegan Hirst in the squad for this match.
Catalans Dragons welcome a trio of players back with Antoni Maria, Ben Garcia and David Mead all fit to return but they will be without Julian Bousquet which could be significant. Fouad Yaha hasn’t yet completed his registration since rejoining the club so he misses out too.
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Betting
I think the players that are returning for the Catalans Dragons makes them a shade of value in this match, but at the same time I respect the home form of the Wakefield Trinity so this is anything but a simple match to bet on it has to be said. I will however side with my gut and take the visitors but I’ll use the four point start that they get to my advantage.
Catalans have a win to their name which is useful and team news has certainly gone their way. I don’ think all these rumours about whether David Fifita will or won’t go to Leeds is going to help Trinity either. I said before the season began that I expected big things from the Dragons this season. If that is to prove the case they should be staying within four points of Wakefield at the very least.
Tips
Back Catalans Dragons (+4) to beat Wakefield Trinity for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betway
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