A contrast in club fortunes going into the game
While the Huddersfield Giants are feeling good again after breaking their Super League XXI duck with the 38-6 destruction of Hull KR, Catalans Dragons were left licking their wounds after a 30-20 home defeat to unbeaten Warrington Wolves.
The men from the South of France were confident of securing a third win of the 2016 campaign heading into the Wolves clash.
And when they led 20-12 early in the second half, it looked as if they would be able to build on their earlier season successes at home to Leeds Rhinos (32-28) and at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (42-28).
But they fell away disappointingly in the final quarter and are now left picking up the pieces ahead of Sunday’s trip to the John Smith’s Stadium.
It will, of course, be the Dragons’ second Huddersfield visit in the space of two months, with the Perpignan-based side having suffered a 26-16 pre-season trial defeat to the Giants on January 23.
The return of the flying machine
Ready to line up on the wing for Catalans this weekend will be Jodie Broughton, who may feel he has a bit of a point to prove.
During his two seasons in the claret and gold, the 28-year-old former Salford man was unable to establish a regular starting spot, with Jermaine McGillvary and Aaron Murphy ahead of him in the queue – although he always accepted the form of his teammates warranted their selection ahead of him.
But that’s unlikely to prevent him from wanting to get the better of his former employers on Sunday.
He had a very solid game in the pre-season encounter two months ago and was one of the visitors’ tryscorers, and he’ll be wanting to do even better second time around.
Jodie Broughton isn’t the only new face in the French squad
Several new players will be in the Catalans line-up this weekend.
Besides Broughton, former Wigan Warriors goalkicking favourite Pat Richards will be on the other flank, while ex-Warrington scrum-half Richie Myler will be teaming up with stand-off Todd Carney to pull the attacking strings.
And their mew-look pack is expected to include Glenn Stewart, Justin Horo, Dave Taylor and Willie Mason.
All four man-mountains have been top performers in the Australian NRL and are capable of giving any set of opposition forwards a rough ride.
They are four of a significant number of Antipodeans in the Dragons squad, with Richards, Carney and Krisnan Inu also coming into that category, prompting former Wakefield coach Brian Smith to re-name the Dragons the ‘Catalans Kangaroos’ after they had beaten his side a couple of weeks ago.
The arrival of the ‘Coal Train’
There have been few ‘bigger’ signings in Super League for 2016 than Dave Taylor.
The 27-year-old former Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney and Gold Coast Titans back-row forward is a huge on-field presence, with his blockbusting, no-nonsense straight-forward running style earning him the apt ‘Coal Train’ title.
And when the 6ft 1in, 19st 5lb forward is in full flight it can be a sight to behold – although may be not for the opposition defenders charged with the task of trying to stop him!
In the win at Wakefield a fortnight ago, Taylor was virtually unstoppable. Making sure there’s no repeat this weekend is a priority.
Still one of Super League’s main under-achievers?
Two clubs in the top-flight competition have earned this unwanted tag.
Hull FC are one, and Catalans Dragons are the others.
The French side’s major problem is that they regularly suffer from a bout of travel sickness. They’re incredibly strong at home, but relatively weak away.
If they can discover a cure for their sickness, their strong squad will finally be able to perform to their full top-flight potential.
That will be at the back of their minds when they walk out a the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
