Catalans Dragons vs Hull FC Prediction: Home side to see off new-look FC

A rebuilding Hull FC head to the south of France on Friday for their Betfred Super League season opener against a Catalans Dragons side in need of a strong 2025 after a hugely disappointing campaign of their own, in a meeting of two sides with points to prove at the Stade Gilbert Brutus (kick-off 20:00, Sky Sports+).

Hull were horrible last season, but a complete facelift has seen businessmen Andrew Thirkill and David Hood take ownership, former player Richie Myler look to stamp his mark as a director of rugby, and John Cartwright arrive as head coach. My Catalans Dragons vs Hull FC predictions follow, accompanying full team news and match odds.

Catalans Dragons vs Hull FC Odds

Nobody who watched Hull last season will be surprised to see them priced as a 13/5 shot to win in Perpignan on Friday, implying a 27.8% chance of an away win. The Black and Whites won just three games in 2024, and while the victory over amateur side York Acorn last week in the Challenge Cup takes them 33.3% of the way to matching that record, Catalans are big 3/10 favourites to do the job in round one.

You can get 20/1 with Betfred for the draw, while the standard handicap market offers Hull FC a 10.5-point start in return for shortened 4/5 odds. Catalans are 20/21 against that disadvantage, at an implied 51.2% probability.

FC held the Dragons for long spells in the Round 27 defeat at the MKM Stadium last autumn, and are 12/5 to have the lead at the break on Friday.

Team News

The notable bits of team news for the Dragons concern two of their most important players. Having come out of retirement last season, Sam Tomkins has been persuaded to go around again but he misses the season opener through injury.

Tomkins suffered a hamstring injury in the Challenge Cup win at Halifax Panthers last weekend and did not re-emerge after half-time.

Theo Fages is also out, with the half-back suffering fractured ribs during training. The club say that Fages will be out for at least a month. Into the squad in place of Tomkins and Fages come Arthur Romano and Jordan Dezaria.

Hull FC made 10 signings for the new season and seven are included in the 21-man squad. The Black and Whites name Zak Hardaker, Jordan Rapana, Aidan Sezer, John Asiata, Cade Cust, Hugo Salabia and Amir Bourouh for the trip to Perpignan.

They still have a lengthy injury list however, with Oliver Holmes, Davy Litten, Ed Chamberlain, Jack Charles and Matty Laidlaw all out. Holmes has a mild knee injury, while Chamberlain has an ankle problem.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 2 Catalans Dragons -16 @ 17/10

Some see this as a great chance for the unknown quantity that is the new-look Hull FC to go into the Dragons' den and cause an upset. On the face of it, given the injuries to Tomkins and Fages, it is a possibility given how badly the Catalans struggled through 2024.

Steve McNamara seemed to hit a brick wall with his team last year, and may find himself under some pressure if the Dragons don't start the season well.

When you talk of struggles however, Hull stank the place out last season and simply can't be any worse in 2025.

They have completely ripped their squad apart and made a few shrewd signings, but also brought in some old legs.

I fancy Catalans to get the job done in this one, but it might not be pretty. These teams met three times last year and Catalans won the lot, but none of them were too ugly score-wise. The Dragons scored 24 or 26 points in each of the three games, with Hull registering a few scores of their own.

I'm seeing this in a similar ballpark, with a Dragons win by two to three scores the most likely outcome. I'm going to back the home side though to add a bit more polish, and will take the extra value on offer for a -16 handicap at 17/10 with a 37% implied probability.

Tommy Makinson anytime tryscorer @ 1/1

Catalans made a terrific move to bring in England winger Tommy Makinson from St Helens to fill the void left by Tom Johnstone's return home to Wakefield Trinity.

Makinson is a class act and one of the most reliable try scorers in Super League. He is also just seven points short of reaching 1500 for his career, and I would not bet against him hitting that milestone here.

He's a 50% implied shot for a try on opening night.

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