Wigan Warriors name matchday side for Catalans Dragons clash in Paris as three changes made
The squads are in for Saturday’s Super League clash between Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors in Paris
Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet has made three changes to his matchday side that will face Catalans Dragons at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Saturday evening.
Peet has made three changes to his line-up that lifted the Challenge Cup at Wembley last weekend after running out 40-10 winners against Hull KR in the final, with Sam Walters and Harry Smith serving seven-match and one-match suspensions respectively. Bevan French also comes out of the matchday side as he continues building up his running load after returning from a 12-week injury lay-off last time out.
As a result, 17-year-old George Marsden comes in to partner Jack Farrimond in the halves in the absence of Smith. Prop Sam Eseh and versatile forward Taylor Kerr come in on the bench for the Warriors.
With Walters ruled out through suspension, Ethan Havard starts in the front-row to partner Luke Thompson, with Eseh effectively the man to replace Walters in the 17-man squad. Kerr, who can play loose forward, hooker or stand-off, is the man chosen to fill the void left by French on the bench. Young forward Kian McDermott has been named as 18th man.
As for Catalans, Kruise Leeming will line up against his parent club Wigan, having been named on the bench for John Cartwright’s side. Leeming linked up with the Dragons on a season-long loan back in January, in a move that saw Ollie Partington return to his hometown club Wigan on a five-year contract.
Scotland international Matty Russell, who came through the youth ranks at Wigan before making two appearances between 2011 and 2012 before spending a year in the NRL with Gold Coast Titans, will start on the wing for Catalans against his former club. Another ex-Warrior has been named in the Dragons’ front-row in the shape of Romain Navarrete, who four seasons in cherry and white between 2017 and 2020.
Catalans: Charlie Staines; Matty Russell, Matthieu Laguerre, Solomona Faataape, Nick Cotric; Toby Sexton, Lewis Dodd; Josh Allen, Ugo Tison, Romain Navarrete, Franck Maria, Zac Lipowicz, Benjamin Garcia. Subs: Chris Satae, Julian Bousquet, Ben Condon, Kruise Leeming. 18th man: Tommy Makinson.
Wigan: Jai Field; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Noah Hodkinson; Jack Farrimond, George Marsden; Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Ollie Partington. Subs: Kaide Ellis, Patrick Mago, Sam Eseh, Taylor Kerr. 18th man: Kian McDermott.
The Round 13 Super League fixture takes place at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Saturday evening, 7:30pm kick-off (6:30pm UK time). The game will be broadcast live on the Sky Sports + Channel.