big game, one we need to be winning!

both teams have their injury problems right now, catalans coming off a walloping at hull... they will be looking for a response.

we drew with them last time we played them at newcastle (game should have been won by us at half time!)

walsh always has a good game against us, need to stop him!

ridyard to make his debut alongside wood or farrell?

taai and cudjoe back hopefully!!!



hope to have a good day out and the 2 points... no point asking where people are sitting as we dont sit together anyway.

Newcastle was one of ,if not the best performance we put on last year. I hope we can play with the same attitude and style again. Catalan are not awesome at all and we have been improving slightly, No Brough which is a blow but Ridyard may slot in well. Hope Farrell gets his chance on the big stage, it could be just what he needs, and at the end of the day It's just another league match. onward and upwards.

Ta'ai not available.

just cudjoe back then

giants still doing it tough



possible this is the last magic weekend up at newcastle... then goes out to tender again.

not been too bad for us, draw and a win.

Hope this is the last up there. We usually go two nights- only gone one this year as the prices are a disgrace! People have voted with their feet too as fewer tickets sold this year overall- fewer weekend ones!

For your information Dragons went to Hull with 11 injuries in the 25 man squad.Gigot did not play as it was considered too risky.The Catalans have 6 more injuries as a result of the hull game,though one of them is outside the squad.The injuries to Bousquet and Myler ,2 of our 3 best players are the straw that breaks the camel,s back.It is claimed that Bird Bosc Anderson Wiliame and Gigot will be back on Sunday .I am dubious about Bird who is supposed to have a fractured eye socket. The following players from the 25 are injured 2 Broughton 3 Inu 7 Myler 9 aiton 10 Moa 12 Horo plus Baitieri Garcia Burgess Bousquet Margalet and Dacosta. That leaves 13 fit players plus 4 Replacements from the "kids".I know you will think I am whining ,but if you cannot beat that you are a very bad team.Our team looks like Gigot Yaha Thornley Wiliame Duport Walsh Albert---Casty Bosc Simon Anderson ? Bird.We might play Duport in the forwards . Replacements are ? ? ? ? .Please note that my information is from a well informed source .The club does not tell its fans what is going on.

Well that's an essay of a giant early excuse.! To be honest I've never been one to care much about injuries.. every team has a squad, it's good practice for the younger lads and a good opportunity for the unfavoured ones.
Maybe the Dragons should use their wages on good French players and developing them rather than bringing in a new big signing every year..
Win, lose or draw against a depleted Dragons side won't make us a good or bad side.
We both play what's in front of us and hopefully we both do ourselves proud with our performances.

welcome to how our season has been so far and to some extent still is!

cas fans were saying the same with them missing players, still won.

we have improved as a team the last two games though so if we continue in the same vein it gives us a chance

the bookies have catalans as the favourites

And Gaskell I believe.

I am familiar with all those names,so they are no worse than us.

I anticipated those responces.Any team without that many players has no chance-note the Wakefield -Wigan result last year.Young French players are of a very low standard as last friday at hull proved.However,thanks for the tip. I have put a lot of money on Huddersfield

hope youre collecting!!

gaskell and ridyard hopefully the half back combo ! a boost

Hello Hudds fans .It's me again.wishing I'd kept my mouth shut and my hands in my pocket.The pictures from training this morning show Myler, Moa Inu Aiton Bird and da Costa all participating .Bousquet is also present ,but not necessarily training hard.Many apologies. The club let the media say things that do not always turn out to be true.

same with cas fans other week ...listing a host of injuries then what do you see... them playing!

can guarantee you wont see brough, lawrence, symonds, and taai playing for us

just give us proper injuries/bans next time!

The reality is-as it often is-somewhere in between.In fact Wiliame Anderson and Bosc have not recovered.There are also 3long term injuries. But it is much better that I feared.
Probable Dragons team Gigot- Yaha Inu Thornly Duport---Walsh Myler---Casty Aiton Moa --Garcia plus one other-Bird .Interchange Bousquet Simon Da Costa plus one other.I live in Newcastle so this is a home match for me.

yep as expected catalans bring 4 of their star players back in, seems they threw the cup game last week at hull fc... mind you we could be guilty of that too!

team for me

mamo
mcgillvary
cudjoe
murphy
mcintosh

leeming
gaskell
ridyard

ikahihifo
wakeman
ferguson
hinchcliffe
roberts

bench-

rapira
clough
obrien
mellor


mason and wood to miss out maybe, not sure where mellor fits in now really so stuck him on the bench

its a shame wood is likely to sit out as he has been brilliant for us but at least it shows we are getting back to full strength.

Sam Wood has time on his side.

He's going to play SL for many years to come IMO.

future second rower maybe, got the size for it

Can honestly say today was the worst magic ever- and I've been to them all- poor atmosphere all day. It's not magic anymore...

dont worry will be even worse for our game!

last one up there anyway

Starting today, the Next 3 fixtures will decide whether we are super 8s or middle 8s.

Awful first half from Giants and that ref. He seriously must be the worst SL ref there is.

Chris Kendall, ref of Widnes/Wakefield match, takes that accolade I think.