Catalans Dragons vs Hull KR Prediction: Champions looking to find their groove

Champions Hull KR head to the Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday evening in the highly unusual position of a lowly 12th in the early Betfred Super League table (17:30 KO).

But Rovers look to be finding their groove again as they face a Catalans Dragons side brimming with confidence after a thumping 58-0 Challenge Cup win last weekend. Our rugby league guru George Riley shares his Catalans Dragons vs Hull KR predictions, complete with the latest match odds and team news.

Catalans Dragons vs Hull KR Odds

Team News

Catalans boss Joel Tomkins was able to rest some big names last weekend and his fringe players did not let him down. A 58-0 thumping of Championship side Oldham saw 11 tries scored, with neither first choice winger Nick Cotric or Tommy Makinson in the squad.

This week most of the big names are back, as captain Benjamin Gacria, prop Julian Bousquet and winger Cotric return to replace Leo Darrelatour, Alexis Lis and Josh Simm.

Hull KR boss Willie Peters makes just one change to his squad for the trip to Perpignan. Goal-kicking second row forward Rhyse Martin picked up a foot injury in the win at Huddersfield last weekend and his place in the squad goes to France international Jordan Dezaria who could make his Robins debut against his former club.

James Batcherlor missed out last week despite being named in the squad, but is named again despite a hip issue.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 1 Hull KR - 14 @ 6/4

Hull KR's season hasn't really got going yet, but it will do.

A very short spell has already brought a high and low, with the thrilling World Club Challenge win followed up by their nightmare capitulation to Leeds in the showpiece game in Las Vegas. Since then there has of course been the safe passage through to the Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-finals, and now the focus is on kick-starting the league campaign. One win from three is not what many anticipated, but with a game and several months in hand there is absolutely no need to panic.

This therefore is a pretty good trip for KR to find out where they are at. Because the Dragons have been going along quite nicely. They were awful last year but are themselves into the last eight of the Cup and have already recorded Super League wins over Leigh and Huddersfield.

Last year saw three meetings between the teams and Rovers were comfortable winners in each - the biggest margin of victory coming in a 68-4 home win in June. Two games in the south of France saw Rovers win by 24 and 28 points respectively.

Catalans have improved since then and Rovers have had a sticky start, but I don't see a home win here. Peters is a demanding boss and I don't expect many repeats of the defeats to York and Leeds. I have the away side to win this one by a few scores.

Jack Broadbent anytime tryscorer @ 5/4

Rovers have had a few injury issues to deal with this year, not least the loss of their former Dragons full-back Arthur Mourgue and his would-be deputee Declan Murphy.

But that has afforded another opportunity to one of their unsung heroes. Jack Broadbent was a regular returner in our anytime tryscorer punts in this column last season, and such were the consistency of his performances that the former Leeds man was desperately unlucky to miss out on a place in the Grand Final squad.

Back in the side I expect him to take his chance again and Broadbent managed a try in the Cup win at Huddersfield last weekend. He has scored in each of his last three matches against the Dragons so this is a fixture he likes, and 5/4 for a Broadbent try is value I like too.

Other options of note this week include winger Joe Burgess - the England man needs only one try to hit 150 Super League tries, and at 4/6 I would suggest he has a good chance of doing that here.

For the home side I have been backing their full-back Charlie Staines with good reason this year, with four tries in his last three games. Staines is an elusive runner and is an enticing 6/4 to score again here.

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