Warrington Wolves v Catalans Dragons: First Utility Super League preview
Last Updated: 05/06/15 7:44pm
Warrington will be looking to avenge their heaviest defeat of the season when they host Catalans Dragons on Friday night.
The Wolves went down 38-18 in Perpignan in February but Todd Carney, who made an impressive debut for the Dragons that day, will be absent from the return fixture after tearing a pectoral muscle against Huddersfield last Sunday.
Tony Smith has named an unchanged side for Friday’s contest after Richie Myler shook off the knock he took in the Magic Weekend derby defeat to St Helens.
Former Wolves skipper Michael Monaghan, who is now assistant coach at the Dragons, returns to the Halliwell Jones Stadium but the visitors are without a number of key players through injury and suspension.
Willie Tonga and Carney picked up injuries in last weekend’s draw with Huddersfield, while Vincent Duport, Thomas Bosc, Ben Garcia and Jeff Lima are also sidelined.
Catalans coach Laurent Frayssinous is set hand young reserve forward Thibau Margalet his first Super League appearance of the season.
The Dragons have won just one Super League game on the road this season and the absence of the influential Carney dents their hopes of a rare away success.
"I'd rather he was playing," said Smith. "He played exceptionally well against us (in February) and we would have liked a chance to play him on our patch and handle what he's got to offer.
"It's a chance for somebody else and they've got some very good attacking players so I'm sure they'll give us a fair run.
"Their (away) record isn't great but they're a big physical team who throw the ball around. If you allow them to play, they will play good rugby league and hurt you."
Warrington Wolves: Roy Asotasi, Ryan Atkins, Chris Bridge, Daryl Clark, Ben Currie, Brad Dwyer, Anthony England, Ben Harrison, Chris Hill, George King, James Laithwaite, Joel Monaghan, Richie Myler, Gareth O’Brien, Gene Ormsby, Declan Patton, Stefan Ratchford, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood.
Catalans Dragons: Morgan Escaré, Ben Pomeroy, Michael Oldfield, Scott Dureau, Olivier Elima, Ian Henderson, Rémi Casty, Zeb Taia, Louis Anderson, Eloi Pelissier, Elliott Whitehead, Mathias Pala, Julian Bousquet, Antoni Maria, Jason Baitieri, Stan Robin, Fouad Yaha, Tony Gigot, Thibaut Margalet.
Watch Warrington v Catalans live on Sky Sports 1 on Friday from 7.30pm