Wakefield Trinity vs Catalans Dragons Prediction: Wakey hunt playoffs

Catalans have finally confirmed the formal departure of head coach Steve McNamara and interim appointment of Joel Tomkins, with the Dragons heading to West Yorkshire this weekend to take on Wakefield (17:30 BST, Sky Sports +).

Trinity are seventh, one point off the playoff places, and will fancy their chances of a home win against the out-of-sorts Dragons. Below you can find my Wakefield Trinity vs Catalans Dragons predictions. 

Team news

Wakefield have forwards Mike McMeeken and Caleb Hamlin-Uele in their 21-man squad, with England forward McMeeken set to return after a two-match absence with a pectoral injury.

Rugby League Odds

Hamlin-Uele (nerve damage) hasn't played since April while Jake Trueman is again absent with concussion. Young prop Ellis Lingard also drops out.

Catalans interim boss Joel Tomkins names a 20-man squad, which includes the return from suspension of former Hull FC prop Chris Satae.

Handicap 3-way: Wakefield -10 @ 1/1

All it needed last week for Catalans to snap out of a seven-match losing run was for us to back the opposition. In truth Huddersfield never showed up in the south of France and Catalans were comfortable winners for the first time in a couple of months.

This though feels a much more difficult proposition given the way Trinity have been playing, especially on home soil.

Last week may have brought defeat to Super League leaders and Challenge Cup winners Hull KR, but this Wakefield side is tough to beat under head coach Daryl Powell.

Wakefield Trinity vs Catalans Dragons Odds

The week before brought victory over champions Wigan and deservedly so, with a narrow defeat by Leigh Leopards the other result in a competitive month of June.

I think this will be a very physical contest but one I fancy Wakefield to win. I do not feel that one home win over Huddersfield has sorted any of the Catalans problems out, and make Trinity favourites, as the league table would suggest.

The handicap gives Wakefield a 10-point start which would have been unheard of at the start of the year against Catalans. But I feel that is just about right and I am going to sit right on the handicap to back a home win.

Tom Johnstone anytime tryscorer @ 4/5

Tom Johnstone remains the man for the big occasion and always feels like Wakefield's most likely tryscorer.

He will have a point to prove in this one against his former club, and has scored in each of Wakefield's last two games.

If Trinity get their attacking game flowing then you can expect the likes of Johnstone, Oliver Pratt and Corey Hall to prosper.

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights