Wigan Warriors vs Catalans Dragons Predictions: 9/1 and 17/2 shots tempting in tight battle

| 1st May |

3 mins read

The world champion Wigan Warriors host the Catalans Dragons at the DW Stadium on Thursday (kick-off 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Arena) in a rematch of the 2023 Betfred Super League Grand Final.

It is fascinating that the two sides come face-to-face for the first time this season in this week of all weeks, with both teams arriving on the back of only their second defeat of the campaign. My Wigan Warriors vs Catalans Dragons prediction will therefore have to take into account the respective resilience of the two Grand Finalists…

Wigan Warriors vs Catalans Dragons Tips

Tom Johnstone first tryscorer @ 9/1
Catalans Dragons to win by 1-5 points @ 17/2

Team news

Wigan coach Matt Peet has made two changes to his matchday squad following last week’s convincing 26-10 defeat to Hull Kingston Rovers at Sewell Group Craven Park.

Liam Byrne and Sam Walters come into the 21, with Mike Cooper and Tiaki Chan missing out. Byrne has been out for the last four weeks having been banned for his high challenge in the Good Friday derby against St Helens which led to his game-changing red card.

Walters probably won’t make it to the final 17, with his return from a broken collarbone likely to come in a reserve game on Saturday against Hull KR. Cooper, meanwhile, failed a Head Injury Assessment in last Friday’s defeat so could be back for the round 11 trip to Huddersfield Giants.

While the Dragons are still without former Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum, they are able to welcome back a pair of big names in Mike McMeeken and Jordan Abdull.

McMeeken returns following suspension, while Abdull is back after suffering a hamstring problem in the 14-8 win over St Helens in round seven.

Tom Johnstone first tryscorer @ 9/1

This is a tough one to call. Wigan have looked close to perfect for much of this season, winning the World Club Challenge against the Penrith Panthers and getting off to a great start in the Betfred Super League.

Even their narrow Good Friday loss to St Helens came at the death after Byrne’s red card, but then last week at Hull KR they looked way off the pace. While Rovers were excellent, the Warriors were simply not at the races.

So coach Peet will be making demands of his players ahead of Thursday’s game, particularly on the defensive side, but they’re coming up against a Dragons outfit which has threats all over the field.

And while Tom Johnstone has only scored four tries in nine Super League games to date, I fancy the visitors to start well at the DW and it could be out wide that they make the breakthrough.

Given the former Wakefield Trinity man has not been prolific so far, he is priced at a generous 9/1 by Betfred (implying a 10% probability) and I like his chances.

Catalans Dragons to win by 1-5 points @ 17/2

In a tight contest, I’m looking for big value, and I don’t see this being won by many points whoever takes it. Wigan are 6/1 to take it by 1-5, with Catalans 17/2 to do similar.

I’ve long thought that Wigan are the outstanding team in the league in 2024, but their performance in round nine suggests they are not at the peak of the game at the moment.

And Steve McNamara’s Catalans are not the team to be taking on if you are below 100 per cent, with their relentlessness against Hull KR in round eight being typical of what they can do.

They were well beaten by Leigh Leopards last time out, but I think they could be the ones to respond better this week and I just have a feeling they might edge it.