Wigan Warriors have responded to their opening Betfred Super League defeat against Hull Kingston Rovers with a pair of blistering performances in which they have conceded a grand total of zero points. Meanwhile, Catalans Dragons have got their campaign off to a flying start with three wins from three.
Something has to give at the DW Stadium this week as Matt Peet's Warriors host the French outfit in the stand-out game of Round 4.
So what does Thursday have in store? Here’s the full rundown.
Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons
Where: DW Stadium, Wigan.
When: 8.00pm (GMT)
TV: Sky Sports Arena
Wigan's last five: Won 36-0 @ Castleford (Rd 3), Won 60-0 v Wakefield (Rd 2), Lost 18-27 @ Hull KR (Rd 1), Lost 8-20 v Leeds (2022 semi-final), Won 48-4 v Catalans (Rd 27, 2022)
Catalans' last five: Won 38-6 v Hull FC (Rd 3), Won 14-6 v Leigh (Rd 2), Won 38-24 @ Wakefield (Rd 1), Lost 10-20 v Leeds (2022 eliminator), Lost 4-48 @ Wigan (Rd 27, 2022)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Wigan 2/13, Catalans 9/2, draw 22/1
First try scorer odds: Liam Marshall (Wigan) 4/1, Bevan French (Wigan) 4/1, Jai Field (Wigan) 11/2, Tom Johnstone (Catalans) 8/1, Abbas Miski (Wigan) 9/1
Milestones:
Fouad Yaha's 150th Catalans Dragons appearance will again be delayed since he has not made the 21-man squad, although he is now back in training after injury.
Previous meetings:
Round 27, 2022: Wigan Warriors 48, Catalans Dragons 4
Round 5, 2022: Catalans Dragons 28, Wigan Warriors 0
Round 25, 2021: Wigan Warriors 21, Catalans Dragons 8
Round 8, 2021: Catalans Dragons 48, Wigan Warriors 0
Round 12, 2020: Catalans Dragons 12, Wigan Warriors 28
Total Super League meetings: 52 (Wigan 30, Catalans 11, one draw)
The Betfred Super League's two top try scorers - and two of the greatest finishers in the game - come head-to-head at the DW as Wigan's Liam Marshall squares up against Tom Johnstone of the Dragons. Marshall already has an extraordinary eight tries to his name in just three games this season, with his hat-trick last time out at Castleford Tigers coming hot on the heels of a four-try showing in the thrashing of Wakefield Trinity. Add that kind of firepower to the fact that Wigan also boast 2022's try king Bevan French, who scored 31 last term, and the Warriors have threats coming from everywhere.
The visitors have a great new weapon in Johnstone, who joined in the off-season from Wakefield. While he picked up a flurry of injuries in his Belle Vue days he has a reputation for being able to score all sorts of acrobatic tries and already has five under his belts this season. It's a great extra feather in Steve McNamara's cap as the former England head coach looks to get Catalans back at the big table after they fell off the pace a little in 2022, 12 months on from winning the League Leaders' Shield and pushing St Helens all the way in the Grand Final.
Sportsman stat: Catalans' first ever Super League fixture was a 38-30 win in 2006 over a Wigan side which took until Round 21 of the season to climb out of the relegation zone.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
