Catalans Dragons vs Salford Red Devils Prediction: Hosts to cover the handicap

Under siege and in dire straights, but Salford march on and head to Perpignan this weekend for a Rivals Round fixture against Catalans Dragons (18:00).

Our rugby league guru George Riley provides his Catalans Dragons vs Salford Red Devils prediction, plus the latest odds and team news.

Catalans Dragons vs Salford Red Devils Odds

Catalans are overwhelming favourites for this, trading at 1/33 with Betfred at time of publication. Salford, who continue to suffer from off-field issues, are 11/1 to spring an upset. The draw is a 25/1 shot.

Tommy Makinson is 6/1 to score the game's opening try, with Fouad Yaha at 7/1 and Leo Darrelatour at 8/1.

Team News

There is trepidation each week for Salford and rugby league fans alike when head coach Paul Rowley names his squad. Firstly, is he able to name a squad? Secondly, has he filled all 21 spaces in it? And thirdly, how many first-teamers can play this week?

The club under special measures are in disarray and this week send just 18 players to France in what is a much-changed squad. Captain Kallum Watkins is of course absent after his departure last week to rejoin former club Leeds.

Winger Deon Cross is again missing, as St Helens try and push a deal through for him. My understanding is that he is unlikely to play for the Red Devils again. Chris Atkin - who played full-back last week - is also missing, alongside Shane Wright and Sam Davis.

Also dropping out from last week are Jamie Pye, Jimmy Shields and Josh Wagstaffe. Loan signings Harvey Makin from Wigan and Jake Thewlis from Warrington both come in, and there is a return for Tiaki Chan and for Nathan Connell.

Catalans make two changes with Jordan Dezaria moving on loan to Castleford and Arthur Romano dropping out.

Returning to the squad are Romain Navarette and Clement Martin.

Catalans -26.5 @ 10/11

These two sides met a couple of weeks ago in the Betfred Challenge Cup and Salford produced a spirited performance to defy the odds and only lose 20-12.

I don't think they can get that close this time having lost even more bodies, and the longer this crisis goes on the greater toll it is going to be taking on the players still there, and the worse it is going to get.

Salford have lost on their last three visits here, and scored just 12 points across the three games - all of those coming in the last meeting two weeks ago.

This will be another Catalans win and it is tricky to even find any value in the match if truth be told. But I am sticking on the handicap with reasonable optimism that Catalans will win this one convincingly.

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