Catalans Dragons vs St Helens Prediction: Banged-up Saints can make it two wins on the spin

Saints boss Paul Rowley spoke of his admiration for his players to overcome more adversity to defeat Leigh Leopards in the first home game of the season.

As predicted, after the disappointing performance and loss to Warrington the week prior, there would be changes to the starting line-up. Jonny Lomax came back into the halves with Tristan Sailor reverting to his favoured full-back role in the absence of Jack Welsby.

Unfortunately, less than two minutes into the game, Lomax suffered a dislocated wrist while chasing back from a Leigh break. That obviously signalled the end of the Saints veterans night, and yet more swapping and changing for the home side.

Jonny has since had surgery and now faces two months on the sidelines, adding to an already significant injury list that includes key players Matty Lees and Welsby. Add to that new signing Nene McDonald who left the field with a quad issue.

Sailor’s brief spell out of the halves didn’t last long as Harry Robertson moved into the full back role when Lomax left the field. This looks like it will be the case now for the foreseeable.

That Leopards break led to the visitors opening the scoring in the third minute as the ball was fed out to Josh Charnley to cross over in the right corner. It looked ominous for the Saints after that poor start.

However, on the ninth minute Daryl Clark buried his way over the Leigh tryline, and following a Hastings conversion, Saints led 6-4. Jacko then added a penalty goal following a successful captain's challenge, but then two awful defensive periods on Saints right edge saw Leigh take a 16-8 lead, via tries from Innes Senior and Bailey Hodgson.

I just don’t understand how you can constantly get beat for numbers on the edges, and wingers' obsessions of jamming in, often too late. It’s better to lose meters and make the tackle with help from the inside. This would drive me insane as a coach!

Kyle Feldt did make amends for some poor defensive reads by a spectacular dive in at the corner, taking Saints into the break 16-12 down.

Leigh were first to get the scoreboard moving in the second half, following a penalty goal four minutes in. Three minutes later, Joe Shorrocks who has impressed the Saints fans since his arrival, crossed for the final try of the game.

Some great play from Hastings biting into the Leigh defensive line, hitting the Saints loose forward on a hard, flat line. Some good feet from Joe got him over the whitewash. The conversion followed, 18-all with just over 30 minutes to play.

A 57th-minute penalty to Saints allowed the home side to take the lead, and ultimately hang on to that for the next 20 minutes-plus, for a very hard-earned and much-needed two Betfred Super League points.

It is far from the quality on show that Saints fans expect from their team, but I think in the current situation this is understandable. However, like Paul Rowley and his staff, the home crowd will be delighted with the efforts and endeavour shown.

This week the team travel to the south of France to face the Catalan Dragons on Saturday.

The Catalans Dragons vs St Helens Odds are currently as follows; the hosts are 4/6, the draw is 14/1 and Saints are 7/5.

Joel Tomkins will be looking for a response from his side after a heavy 28-10 defeat to SL new boys Bradford Bulls. The French side were 24-0 down at halftime at Odsal, before making the scoreline slightly more respectable.

Former Saint Lewis Dodd will be out to prove a point against his old club, now back in the Betfred Super League following a stint in Australia.

Based on last week's performance I’ve got to go for a Saints win in Perpignan, which is 7/5 with title sponsors Betfred.

Allez les Saints!