Hull FC are back in action tomorrow as they travel to face table toppers Catalans Dragons at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
After the club was cleared to go ahead with tomorrow’s fixture despite a handful of players being unavailable due to Covid-19, the Black & Whites are targeting a big win in Perpignan to give their play-off hopes a major boost.
Both sides suffered defeat on their last outings, with St Helens claiming victories against the two teams in the space of just five days earlier in the month.
Team News
Troubled by Covid-19, Brett Hodgson has named a quartet of academy players in his 19-man squad for tomorrow’s trip to the South of France; Jacob Hookem, Joel Speed, Marcus Walker and Will Wallis, all of whom played their part in an Academy Derby victory over Hull KR a fortnight ago.
Ben McNamara, who also featured and scored in that Academy Derby is named in the squad. He could face a Catalans side coached by his father, Steve McNamara.
There is some respite for Hodgson, however, as he welcomed Scott Taylor into his 19-man squad for the first time since April. The prop forward has recovered from a foot injury that has kept him out for the majority of the season.
Jordan Johnstone and Andre Savelio are unavailable for selection as they are both suspended.
Catalans have lost a handful of players after they sustained injuries during their defeat to Saints last weekend, with Alrix Da Costa, Paul Seguier, Joel Tomkins and Benjamin Jullien joining the injury list.
However, in timely fashion, four players are in contention to return for the Dragons. Tom Davies, Josh Drinkwater, Julian Bousquet and Sam Kasiano have all been passed as fit to play by the club’s medical staff.
Hull 19-man squad: Faraimo, Tuimavave, Reynolds, Taylor, Houghton, Ma’u, Sao, Cator, Lane, Fash, McNamara, Brown, Swift, Bowden, Scott, Walker, Hookem, Speed, Wallis
Dragons 21-man squad: Mourgue, Davies, Langi, Whare, Yaha, Maloney, Drinkwater, Dudson, McIlorum, Bousquet, McMeeken, Goudemand, Laguerre, Le Cam, Cozza, Chan, Kasiano, Tomkins, Dezaria, Rouge, Franco
What’s the lowdown on the Dragons?
Having accumulated 12 consecutive wins prior to their defeat to St Helens last time out, Catalans had the best winning run in Super League since 2018, such has been their dominance this season.
Only Warrington and Saints, both of whom are hot on the heels of Catalans at the top of the table, have managed to defeat Steve McNamara’s side in 2021.
A host of key players missing in their last game against Saints, including Sam Tomkins, Tom Davies, Samisoni Langi and Josh Drinkwater, may explain why the French outfit struggled so much against the reigning Super League champions.
But with a handful of players set to return to action this week, Catalans won’t be wasting any time in looking to get back in the winner’s circle when they face a depleted Hull FC outfit at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Ones To Watch
Hull: Bureta Faraimo – It was confirmed last week that 2021 will be Bureta Faraimo’s last season with Hull FC, but that doesn’t mean he won’t want to go out with a bang. The former Parramatta Eels winger will join forces with Castleford Tigers from the 2022 season, but he will continue to play a big role in Hull’s three-quarter line in the run-in to the play-offs. Faraimo looked dangerous in Hull’s last two outings against Leeds and Saints, making some big breaks both down the flanks and up the middle of the field. The powerful winger has good memories of playing at Stade Gilbert Brutus, having won on both trips to the South of France in 2019.
Dragons: Arthur Morgue – One player who has burst onto the scene in Super League like a bullet out of a gun is Arthur Mourgue. The key problem facing Steve McNamara is the fact he has the current leader of the Steve Prescott Man of Steel leaderboard, Sam Tomkins, occupying the fullback spot. With a lively Mourgue in the squad, McNamara has the option to bring the Frenchman off the bench in the late stages of games to add a burst of dynamism, whilst he can also operate in the halves when required. With a devastating turn of pace and some nimble footwork, Mourgue has proved he is an extremely difficult customer and Hull will be keeping him at arm’s length at all times.
Key Match Details
Where: Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan, France
When: Friday 13th August, 6.15pm kick-off (UK time)
Coverage: FREE commentary on Hull FC Live
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