CATALANS DRAGONS

[iMorgan Escare,

Michael Oldfield, Villiami Sione Tonga, Benjamin Pomeroy, Vincent Duport,

Todd Carney
Thomas Bosc/Scott Dureau

Jason Baitieri
John Zebolon Taia, Elliot Whitehead,
Remi Casty, Ian Henderson, Louis Anderson.
[/i
InterchangeEloi Pelissier, Olivier Elima, Jeffrey Lima, Gregory Mounis[/i

ReservesJulian Bousquet, Antoni Maria, Benjamin Garcia, Damien Cardace, Matthias Pala[/i


This team, if Todd Carney stays fit for most of the season, should sew up a top 4 spot.
If Todd Carney can find his 2010 form then he is a strong contender for Man of Steel.
This team will be strong enough to ensure that no other club will "romp" Super League.

Normally an above average year constitutes a team finishing 7th or 8th that finished 12th/13th the year before. Not a side finishing top four. We may regress but I doubt we'll regress 5-8 places.

But Castleford has lost a key play maker, Darryl Clarke, who happens to have been the Man of Steel in 2014. That is a major loss. His replacement is inferior. It suggests a major fall is imminent

Compare with Catalans who have lost three very good players -- centre/winger Darryl Millard and props Mickael Simon and Lopini Paea -- and an inconsistent player -- five eighth Leon Pryce. But Catalans has gained two outstanding players --- five eighth Todd Carney and centre Villiame Sione Tonga --- and regained a very good prop Remi Casty, with a talented French junior likely to replace Paea. So Catalans have made a significant net gain in 2015, while Castleford have suffered a net loss.

*Daryl Clark,no E!!!

Losing one player wont drop us all way down the table,people predicted us to do that when rangi left and we know how that went

Castleford still have the Tank on the Flank, and have acquired the enigmatic Samoan international Benjamin Roberts. But there is still a gaping hole in the ranks with the loss of Darryl Clark.

He will be a loss but we'll adapt and move on

Clark wasn't a stereotype hooker.
His loss is big but the replacement of him isn't a straight swap with another hooker in my opinion.

Replacing Clark is as much a part of signing the likes of Roberst as it is a hooker. As long as they replace the ability to make breaks as he did, it doesn't matter what position it is coming from.

Cas "may" not be quite as good, but they won't fall far if they do.

Should that not be Jonathan or Johnny Zebolon Taia?

And Remigius Casty. Anyone would think that Jean isn't French at all.

I just find it confusing when Jeanette only refers to some by their full name.

No! Most Johns are not Jonathan's, and it is very rare for someone to have Johnny on his birth certificate. He is usually a "John."

And you never hear the police vice squads, in their crackdowns on prostitution, say that they are arresting the Jonathans.

1. Kevin Locke
2. Ben Jones-Jones Bishop
3. Josh Griffin
4. Junior Sa'u
5. Greg Johnson
6. Rangi Chase
7. Michael Dobson
8. Scott Taylor
9. Tommy Lee
10. Lama Tasi
11. Harrison Hansen
12. Weller Hauraki
13. Gareth Hock

14. Theo Fages
15. Darrell Griffin
16. Tony Puletua
17. Cory Patterson

It's really getting there that Salford side now. I never bought the hype last pre season and I thought 2014 went pretty much as I expected for Salford but I expect far more this year. A tilt at the top 6 has to be the aim. Those top four positions may be out of reach but they could put up a fight for 5th or 6th.

In terms of continuing to develop a top class hooker and another prop wouldn't go amiss. I'd have thought Caton-Brown would force his way in to that team as well.

I would have Caton-Brown in there ahead of Josh Griffin all day long, despite Griffin's excellent finish to last season. I would also expect to see Morley in the 17 too, he was by far our best prop forward last season at the ripe old age of 37.

1. Locke
2. Johnson
3. Sa'u
4. Caton-Brown
5. BJB
6. Chase
7. Dobson
8. Taylor
9. Lee
10. Tasi
11. Hauraki
12. Hansen
13. Hock

14. Fages
15. Morley
17. Puletua
18. Paterson

Plenty of competition for places too. Young Jordan Walne was outstanding last year, as was Jay Walton, Niall Evalds burst onto the Super League scene in style too, Carl Forster is a highly rated prop who had an outstanding year with Whitehaven and the rest includes Andrew Dixon, Josh Griffin, Liam Hood, Darrell Griffin, Jon Ford, Luke Menzies and George Griffin.

I still think we're a hooker away from a very good team, but I am much more confident in this squad than I was this time last year.

I think at the moment centre is Josh Griffins to lose, he was outstanding last year and fully deserves the squad number he has been given.

A full pre season will do Caton-Brown the world of good as he has all the natural attributes to make it so he won't be far off.

How refreshing is it to talk about a Salford team like this?