I'm going
Shaul
Lineham
Crooks
Yeaman
Talanoa
Rankin
Horne
Carvell
Houghton
Paea
Ellis
Whiting
Westerman
Subs
Feka
Bowden
Heremaia
Thompson

Catalans Dragons headcoach Laurent Frayssinous named his first 19 man squad of the season for the Friday night Super League clash against Hull at the KC Stadium.

Louis Anderson, Vincent Duport and Mathias Pala will miss the trip.

Young French international winger Damien Cardace has been called up to the squad and has been given number 26 jersey.



The squad

2 Morgan Escaré
3 Leon Pryce
4 Ben Pomeroy
5 Michael Oldfield
6 Thomas Bosc
7 Scott Dureau
8 Olivier Elima
9 Ian Henderson
10 Jeff Lima
11 Zeb Taia
13 Greg Mounis
16 Eloi Pelissier
17 Elliott Whitehead
18 Daryl Millard
20 Mickael Simon
22 Jamal Fakir
23 Lopini Paea
24 Jason Baitieri
26 Damien Cardace

Shaul, Lineham, Crooks, Yeamo, Talanoa, Rankin, Horne, Bowden, Houghton, Feka, Whiting, Ellis, Westerman

Subs - Carvell, Paea, Heremaia, Thompson

Arundle and Miller to miss out?

Think that will be the 17, I think you might see Feka on the bench though with Paea starting.

On paper it's a pretty good side. Should be enough to beat Les Cats at home.

Yeah you could be right pal, id be a lot more confident if Green and Tuson were playing instead of Bowden and Thompson.

Been very impressed with Bowden in pre-season, deserves his chance.

Strong squad that, bench a little light with Thompson there instead of Tuson.

I'd go with Rankin & Miller all day, but I know Radford won't. I expect the team to be as Ellam has listed.

Bowden definitely deserves his chance regardless of injuries. He's outplayed both Green and Watts, especially the latter.

I think he'll go with

Shaul
Lineham
Crooks
Yeaman
Talanoa
Rankin
Horne
Paea
Houghton
Bowden
Ellis
Thompson
Westerman

Carvell
Feka
Heremaia
Whiting

Personally if swap miller for Horne and Pitts for Thompson.
Is Pitts injured?

Was thinking the same. He's better than Thompson.

According to James Smailes on Twitter, he's not injured.

Another one who's out of favour with the coach?

Does it add fuel to the fire about Pitts being one to leave - we don't want to play him for cap qualification reasons? I don't know obviously but from what I've seen I agree he looks better than Thompson.

Same prediction for me.

...or maybe Radford can't squeeze more than 19 players into a 19 player squad?

...or maybe Thompson is also cover for the backs?

There always has to be conspiracy theory with some.

He didn't play against Featherstone either.

I think he is entitled to ask.

Pitts at least looked like he was trying pre-season.
Westerman has looked poor but is in the squad.

I'm happy to call this a conspiracy !

I'm not going to read anything into Pitts exclusion for now. This is only the squad for our first competitive game of the season. Someone was always going to miss out.

That doesn't surprise me.

[url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-Jay-Pitts-impresses-coach-Lee-Radford/story-20445953-detail/story.htmlIs this the Jay Pitts you're referring to?[/url

It looks like Radford doesnt think much about Miller.Be interesting to see if he gets a chance when Horne gets his inevitable injury or will we see Heremaia as a make do and mend half back again.

Agree wth your starters and bench. Happy that Horne starts he has to stay in good form to keep Miller out, hope the rumours about Miller potentially being moved on are unfounded and it's just a case of Radders not wanting to start the season with two rookies in the halves. If Miller features in Radfords plans (and being named in the 19 suggests that he does) then I expect him to make his first start against Bradford in round 4 (barring injuries / poor form from Rankin / Horne)

Willing to give Thompson a chance before knocking him, but I too would have preferred Pitts, so don't understand why he is not in the 19 if not injured, and having had pre-season praise from Radders. Bradford have just taken a 2nd row / prop from Wire on a month loan. so maybe a permanent move to the Bulls could be on the cards?

I would put Arundel on bench instead of Thompson, if he's not starting, he offers better cover in the backs and think he's big enough to play S R

big enough but doesn't run hard enough.

If the wind gets any worse the game will be called off me thinks

I'd have Miller in with Rich on the bench instead of Thompson thus giving more cover including for Miller if things are not working. Rich Horne is a perfect utility and it would be a way of keeping his minutes down and keeping him injury free.

Agree with all of that.


Escare
Cardace
Millard
Pomeroy
Oldfield
Pryce
Dureau
Elima
Henderson
Lima
Whitehead
Taia
Mounis

Pelissier
Fakir
Paea
Baitieri

Looking at that potential lineup i dont fancy our chances at all. Cats pack and bench is huge.

Just got 6/1 on sky bet for cat HT, FC FT..we will win!! hope we can make it a good atmosphere hate it been on sky against catalans, they fetch no fans & some home fans think it will be dull, & watch it on sky, think the attendance will be just short of 11k, #COYH.