Catalans Dragons vs Hull FC Prediction: Martin to extend May run

Without a head coach and leaking points, Catalans Dragons need a win to halt their slide down the Betfred Super League table when they welcome dangerous Hull FC to the Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday (17:30, Sky Sports+).

Catalans have suffered painful defeats against both St Helens and champions Wigan in recent weeks and come up against a Hull side who snapped out of a four-game losing run against Leigh Leopards last week. Read on for our rugby league guru George Riley's Catalans Dragons vs Hull FC predictions, complete with the latest match odds and essential team news.

Team News

Catalans are still without talisman Sam Tomkins and make two changes to their squad. Both changes are welcome too, with the experienced Benjamin Garcia returning and Arthur Romano also back.

The two men to make way are Tevita Pangai and Tariq Sims.

Rugby League Odds

Hull FC boss John Cartwright makes two changes to his initial 21-man squad and goes into this game without one of his key forwards.

John Asiata is out after suffering a hamstring injury against his former club last week, while Logan Moy also makes way.

The good news is the inclusion of half-back Cade Cust despite picking up a hip injury that forced him off against Leigh. It appears to be an aggravation of an existing issue and while Cust has been named in the squad, it remains to be seen whether or not he plays.

The two men to come in are centre Jordan Rapana, who suffered an awful-looking head injury that forced a lengthy delay to the game in the defeat at Leeds two weeks ago, and young hooker Will Hutchinson.

Still out are the likes of Ligi Sao, Jed Cartwright, Oliver Holmes, Jordan Lane, Liam Watts and Roman Dawson.

Catalans Dragons vs Hull FC Odds

The hosts are 4/5, or a 55.6% chance, to win, with the visitors priced at 11/10 and the draw at 18/1.

Handicap 3-way alternative 3: Hull FC -6 @ 9/4

Both sides are boosted by the return of key players, but the absence of Asiata definitely weakens the Hull pack against a Catalans forward line that is traditionally one of the fiercest in the business.

Will that be enough, however, to help the home side snap out of a wretched recent run that has cost their head coach his job? I have my doubts.

While both our Dragons selections came in last week in the defeat to Wigan, I was a little alarmed by how easy it was for the Warriors on what is a ground that is usually so tough to win at. The home fortress of the Stade Gilbert Brutus appears long gone, and although you can still feel the hostile atmosphere from the stands, it feels much different on the field itself this season.

The return of Garcia is huge for a Dragons side that badly needs stabilising, but I continue to be impressed by Hull FC. We had them to win against the odds at Leigh last weekend, and that was well-founded in a thoroughly-deserved victory. I felt they were extremely unfortunate to lose the week before that away against Leeds, too.

This could be a close contest, but as always, I will side with my gut, and that is telling me that the better side right now is Hull FC.

The Black and Whites won here in round one this season, 24-4, and while I don't expect that kind of scoreline, I feel that the handicap is a little generous to Catalans and am thus going for Hull by a couple of scores.

Lewis Martin anytime tryscorer @ 10/11

I refer you to pretty much any of my Hull FC previews this season for the reasons why I back Lewis Martin each week.

The lad is a born try scorer, and while his odds are getting less generous as his stock rises at the same pace as his try-scoring stats, I am still not interested in looking anywhere else for a scorer punt in a Hull FC game.

He is having a terrific season and is becoming one of the most reliable try scorers in the game.

April didn’t produce many Martin tries, but he’s scored in every game in May, and I’m backing him to extend that run in the south of France.

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights